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HISTORY 

of 

COMPANY E 

3^5th Infantry 
A. E. F. 



'^^ 



COPYRIGHT, 1919 

BY 
HEATH & ROSS 



(Q)aA559i79 



To those men of E Company , who will 
not return, those comrades ive left sleeping 
in France, those heroes who gave every- 
thing they had to the cause we all sought 
to serve, to those men, our dead, this book 
is dedicated in sacred memory. 





CORPORAL JAMES H. ROSS 

Assistant to 

Jolin M. Gilchrist 

Ceitifietl Public Accountant 

904 Omaha National Bank Bldg 

Omaha 



CORPORAL ;\. R. HEATH 

Representative 

Omaha Printing and 

Advertising Bureau 

1214-16 Howard St. 

Omaha 



INTRODUCTORY 

While Company E, 355th Infantry, 89th Division, was serving 
in the Army of Occupation and billeted at Beurig, Germany, the 
suggestion was made that it might be well to record the engagements 
and achievements of the company so that each individual member 
might have a lasting remembrance of his fighting days. 

This idea met with the hearty co-operation of hoth officers and 
men and Corporals James H. Ross and N. B. Heath assumed the 
responsibility of collecting the data to be embodied in book form. 

Each member of the company was requested to have his photo- 
graph taken by a German or French photographer for the purpose 
of making our history more valuable and complete. The boys were 
all willing to make the book a success and they responded very 
readily to this suggestion. In conjunction with this a number of 
pictures were taken by the boys themselves and nearly every 
picture in this book was photographed in France or Germany. It 
was necessai-y, however, in a few cases to obtain photographs after 
arriving home from boys or parents of the boys due to the fact 
that they were separated from the company, either being killed, 
wounded or sick at the time the other pictures were taken. 

It must be realized that each and every individual is possessed 
with original ideas especially regarding the terrible struggle which 
introduced into so many families a certain sorrow tliat will perhaps 
never be lived down. Imagination is a wonderful trait and is so 
often overestimated, but very few are possessed with the power to 
picture real action in the front as it really was. 

How well we would like to take each and evei^ one of our 
readers, other than members of the company, through the battle- 
scarred and devastated territories. This would be a wonderful course 
of military instruction and would teach more than we would 
ever be able to explain. This tour would burn into the brain of 
each individual certain pictures so that when the word "WAR" was 
mentioned there would leap before the eye visions causing a cer- 
tain unusual tenderness of feeling for the boys who experienced 
ral suffering in the front lines and sacrificed their lives for their 
country. 



Page 5 



Are 


you dead? 


No, comrade, 


lo! 


The dead lie only with the foe; 




You 


sleep, 'tis 


true, but yet you live; 1 


You 


gave your 


life, yet did not 


give 


Your deeds to 


be forgotten th 


us, 


When bone an 


d sinew turn to 


dust. 






— In Flaiiders' 


Fields. 



Page 6 



^9^^ 

^ 




First Lieut. Glenn K. Spencek 

Adjutant Second Battalion 

2011 Greenwood Avenue, Puehlo, Col( 

Killed in Aigonne-Meuse Drive. 



Page 7 




Corporal 

John E. Gilmer 

Central Citv. Neb. 



Corporal 

Edward McCarthy 

Spaulding, Neb. 



Private First Class 
Louis H. Mann 
Humboldt. Neb. 



Private 

Harold Marshall 

Weeping Water, Neb. 



Private 

Harold Wilson 

Clifton, Ariz. 



Private First Class 

Edward Sonoker 

Holton, Kas. 



Page 8 



Private 

liiA S. Pennincer 

Valpariso, Neb. 



Private 

Samuel .Mislevik 

18th and Sts., S. Side 

Omalia, Neb. 



Private 

John Cain 

Leesville, La. 



Private 

Emil Boudar 

1312 South 4th St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Arthur Qui.nlan 

Falls City, Neb. 

No Photo Furnished 



Private 

Augustine Urrea 

Clifton, Ariz. 

No Photo Furnished 




Page 9 




iTivare 

John Oliver 

Address Unknown 

No Photo Furnished 



Private First Class 
Tom Agar 

1014 Harrison St. 

Kansas City, Mo. 
No Photo Furnished 



Private 

Allen Jones 

Address Unknown 

No Photo Furnished 



Private 

L. D. Caye 

Address Unknown 

No Photo Furnished 



Page 10 



DAWN! 

What silence and what peace r 

What joy as of release 

From some black spell 

Falls on the world 

As four long years of fiery tumult cease, 

Death's flags are furled. 

And All's Well! All's Well! 

Rings round a world awakened from war's hell. 

The sounds ol tumult cease — 

Once more the world grows still; 

So still one hears the winds upon the hill. 

Like murmur of spent waves upon Life's shore, 

The bickering of birds before the door. 

The rustle of leaves, the rain rills in the eaves. 

And countless gentle sounds (jne"s heard before. 

Long long ago — those days before the war. 

How sweet they strike upon the ear again! 

How good, how good to know they were not slain 

In the tempest of men's pain: 

That these will last. 

And only the long lists of deatn are past. 

And all the terrible, cruel-give-and-take of war; 

That what is strong and merciful and true 

Moves onward as before: 

The gentleness and courtesy of living. 

The humble joy of kindness and of giving. 

Helping men smile and little children play — 

Lending a hand to all upon Life's Way. 

The four year's night is ended! 
A rosy morn is flooding all the earth, 
As mankind rises to a nobler birth 
With past ways mended. 
And all the future glorious and splendid. 
Yes, Peace and the rising sun and night with- 
drawn — 
Oh, make us worthy. Lord, to face 
The Dawn. 

— By Lloyd Roberts. 



Page 11 




Major J. Foster Svmes 
c|o Symes Building, Denver, Colo. 

Commander of Company E from the date of its origination until 

July, 1918, when he took command of the Third Battalion 

and later received the appointment of major. 



Page 12 



Captain Charles A. Whicht 

117 Courtlaiul St. 

Atlanta, Ga. 

Experienced 28 years service, taking 
command of Company E Dec. 16, 
1918, leading us out of Germany 
back to Camp Funston, where the 
majority of the Co. was discharged. 





Captain Neville C. Fisher 

"Fatiier of the Second Battalion"' 

Suite 1118 Fullerton Bldg., 

St. Louis, Mo. 

Who led the second battalion over 
the top twice in the Argonne-Meuse 
drive. 



Page 13 



i nn i n ii iiiiiiiii n ll ll ll l l l ll l l llll l li ! .,II I IIIIIII]<c)))g((Cii 





First Lt. G. G. Tunell 
Mobridge, S. D. 



First Lt. Gilbert L. McDonough 

McDonough & McDonough, Attys. 

Denver, Colo. 




First Lt. Fred L. Morrison 
Stuart, Iowa. 
Later Appointed Captain 




Second Lt. John E. Gaskill 
7002 Michigan Ave. 
St. Louis, Mo. 




First Lt. Carl Milliken 

Adjutant Second Battalion 

1144 Pennsylvania Ave. 

Denver, Colo. 

Page 14 





First Lt. Charles K. Bowser 
Goshen, Ind. 



Second Lt. Cahi. Goldsberry 

518 South Scoia St. 

Chcleville, Ohio. 




First Lt. Arthur W. McKmght 
Tavlorville, IlL 




^ 




SecoxXd Lt. James L. Webster 
50 Manaronech Ave, 
White Plains, N. Y. 

Page 15 



Second Lt. Pheu A. Corell 
Greeley, Iowa. 




First Sergeant 

Later Commissioned 2d Lt. 

Leland E. Wertz 

Star, iNeb. 



First Sergeant 

Alfred E. Hill 

Ord, Neb. 



Sergeant 

Cecil W. Conklin 

O'Neill, Neb. 



Sergeant 

John W. Smith 

Greeley, Neb. 



Sergeant 

Christian B. Leth 

Elba, Neb. 



Sergeant 

Archie Gleason 

Central City, Neb. 



Page 16 



HISTORY OF COMPANY E 

Experiences of an Average Infantry Unit of One of the 
Best Divisions in the A. E. F. 

"Well, well, well! If it isn"t Jack! Old boy, when did you get 
back? Gosh! I'm sure glad to see you. You're looking fine and 
dandy," and George gripped the hand of his friend like a vise. 

■'Oh, they just took me off the army payroll yesterday, George, 
and I landed in here totlay," Jack explained as he pointed to the red 
chevron on his arm. 

"Say, Jack, you can't imagine how glad I am to see you back 
safe and sound because from the report 1 read on the war over 
there it seems as though anyone was lucky who managed to get 
back." 

"To be frank with you, George, that is the saddest part of the 
homecoming," said Jack, suddenly serious, "when I think of those 
brave lads that we buried in the Argonne Woods and who could not 
come home with us." 

"I suppose that is very true. But you must have had a wonder- 
ful trip and have seen a lot of Europe." 

"Well, our trip abroad did broaden us quite a bit," Jack 
laughed, "especially our feet. It seemed to me we marched about 
three times around the world." 

George interrupted. "By the way, have you had your dinner?" 
he asked. "I know Mother and Dad will be glad to see you, and of 
course Peggy will be tickled to death." 

"George, I haven't had a real good old honest meal since I left 
the States." 

"Just pile yourself in the car and I'll take you home to dinner 
and if Mother can't fill you up there is no one on earth that can." 

"Bless her dear old heart, you know I'd come for 
miles to be a guest at your mother's table. I tell you we never appre- 
ciate a good home until we get an ocean between us. This is a good 
little boat you are driving, George." 

"Best little car on the market. You know business has been 
good with us this year and we have cleaned up handsomely. I think 
business has been generally good throughout the middle west. Jack, 
we didn't know there was a war going on over there until we'd pick 
up the papers and read where the Yanks had made some sensational 
drives or made some big gains. We had plenty of everything we 
wanted to eat and while possibly we may have had to Hooverize on 
some of the staple articles, we didn't suffer any. Well, this is where 
we unload." 

"I wish I had on civilian clothes," sua;gested Jack, worried; "I'd 
like to doll up a bit before I meet the folks." 

"That's where you're all wrong because I know Peg wants to 
see you in your uniform. You know how girls fall for uniforms 
these days. This will be a big surprise for the folks." 

Page 17 



tti|~ 



HQDC?. 




Sergeant 

Orman Kelly 

16 Allamont Ave. 

Washington, Pa. 



Sergeant 

Fred E. Brandt 

1044 Blum St. 

Toledo, 0. 



Sergeant 

Stanley O. Mitchell 

Burwell, Neb. 



Sergeant 

James Flsher 

Elba, Neb. 



Sergeant 

Francis F. Martin 

O'Neill, Neb. 



Sergeant 
Roy H. Horner 

Scotia, Neb. 



Page 18 



jack looked guilty. "I believe you're trying to kid me now, 
and you ought to know that can t be done,"' he laughed. "\ou know 
I think the world ot your sister and Til be frank enough to admit it." 

"iNow, Jack, gel on your biggest smile because here we come 
with the big surprise. Mother, shake hands with a gentleman who 
has just returned from abroad." 

Mother hesitated a moment. "Well, of all things, if it isn't 
Jack. 1 am so glad to see you that I really don't know how to 
express myself. Come into the library and shake hands with Dad." 

Dad had heard them coming. "Welcome to our city. Jack," he 
shouted; "let me get a good hold of that hand of yours. You sure 
have grown big and strong. It seems as though the army must have 
agreed with you. Guess you had a pretty good vacation. Let's see — 
how long have you been gone? It seems years. Jack, since I have 
seen you and I'm mighty glad to be able to shake that hand of yours 
again. Here comes Peggy. I think she is the one you are really 
most interested in, so I will turn you over to her." 

Peggy gasped. "Why. Jack, you mean thing. Why didn't you 
wire me you were coming. I read in the paper that you landed in 
New Yoric and I have waited all these days for a telegram from you." 

"My dear girl, I didn't exactly know what time the colonel 
might get around to sign those discharges, and you know that you 
can't rush those fellows too much. They don't like to be hurried." 

But Peggy pouted a little. "It seems to me that you could have 
come home," she insisted, "to see me and then could have gone back 
to get your discharge. I never have liked the way the army treated 
you boys, anyway; reading all my letters and censoring everything 
you sent to me. It was a shame." 

"You better forget about your troubles and tell me how glad 
you are to see me." 

"Don't be foolish. Jack; you know I have waited a year and a 
half for this homecoming and I am the happiest girl in the world." 

"Dinner is ready," it was Mother calling. "You young folks 
can just as well chat at the table. Come, father, you are to carve the 
fatted calf. Jack, you take vour same old place at the table. Guess 
you haven't forgotten where that is even if vou have been gone a 
year and a half." 

Jack held up his hand. "What's this you're handing me?" he 
asked. 

"That's a napkin." And they all laughed. 

"Gee, I thought it was a towel to dry my mess kit with. Don't 
be surprised, folks, if I put evervthing on one dish because my table 
manners have been sadlv neglected during my sojourn in Europe.'" 

"Have another helping of meat and some more salad," Mother 
insisted. "Peg made the salad and it ought to be good." 

"W ell, if Peg made it I will take more and die happy." 

Peggy blushed. "Remember, Jack," she smiled, "you have to 
try a piece of my pie. You know these war measures have encour- 
aged a good many of us to take up domestic science and I can make 
the loveliest pies, providing Mother instructs in the making." 

Page 19 




Sergeant 

Louis Jacobsen 

Farwell, Neb. 



Sergeant 

Walter T. Rossiter 

Akron, Ohio. 



Sergeant 

Joseph Sanders 

Norfolk, Neb. 



Sergeant 
Frank Maples 
Middlesboro, Ky. 



Sergeant 
Paul J. Thomsen 
North Platte, Neb. 



Sergeant 
Byard a. Dodge 
717 Walnut St. 
Webster City, la. 



Page 20 



''Why in thunder don't you folks quit talking to Jack and let 
him eat'r* Dad interrupted. "1 know how he feels having you folks 
shoot questions at him from all sides while he is trying to eat. Give 
him a chance." 

""Well, Mother, this was a wonderful dinner and you don't know 
how good this home cooking tastes to a globe trotter like me. 
George, you've got the best Mother on earth." 

"Now, Jack," began Dad, as soon as they had left the table, 
"you come out on the porch and tell the folks about some of your 
experiences. We are all anxious to hear about conditions as they 
really were. Help yourself to those cigars and smoke up a bit. It 
will clear your brain." 

Jack settled himself comfortably in a big chair. "That's a 
pretty good weed. Dad," he began, "wish you would have shown up 
on the scene over there with a box of cigars like these. You see the 
Y. M. C. A. did a wholesale business with the officers, selling them 
in box lots, but the enlisted man was limited to a purchase of one or 
two at a time, and he was mighty lucky if he got that many. It was 
the policy, however, of the Y. M. C. A. men to try and stand in with 
the officers, and of course the officers would kid them along and 
tell them what nice boys they were to get those big fat cigars. It 
worked when Adam was a boy and. Dad, it still works today. 

"Well, Dad, I am much adverse to talking about the war as the 
whole thing seems like a nightmare to me and there are certain parts 
of it that 1 am trying to forget. 1 know, however, that you folks 
wish me to entertain you with some kind of a Wild West story, and 
after eating so splendid a dinner I certainly feel obligated, so I will 
try to outline in part the history of a soldier from the time he left 
his good old home until he returned. Of course it would be impos- 
sible for me to relate all my experiences accurately from memory 
but I think with the aid of this little diarv, which I have kept up 
since the date of my departure, that I can recall nearly everything 
that happened. 

"At the time when the calendar seemed to be galloping along 
too fast for the boys whose draft numbers were low on the list, that 
wonderful, huge piece of machinery in Washington was grinding 
out and shaping the destiny of the cream of manhood of America. 
On about September 1, 1917, while all this was taking place, twenty- 
four Nebraska men coming from Greeley, Howard, Merrick, Holt, 
Wheeler, Valley, Garfield and Sherman Counties received those 
well known invitations insisting so strongly that they should be 
present at a certain time and place, which caused many to exchange 
their neat-fitting civilian clothes for the over-sized suit of khaki. 

"As these twenty-four stalwart Nebraskans entered Camp Funs- 
ton, Kansas, they little realized what was hidden in the sandstorms 
a short distance ahead, nor did they know what their future was to 
be, and how discipline was to crush their own original power of sug- 
gestion, but upon being greeted by a lieutenant of perhaps three 
months training they soon began to realize a certain change which 
was to take place immediately. After a check was taken of the men 

Page 21 




Corporal 

John Groga\ 

Wood, S. D. 



Corporal 

Ray McMahon 

2303 H St., South Side 

Omaha, Neb. 



Corporal 

Joseph Hollander 

2755 Arlror St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Corporal 

John A. Klein 

706 North 50th St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Corporal 

Harold Duncan 

614 North 10th St. 

Beatrice, Neb. 



Corporal 

Simon N. Jacobsen 

Box 77 

Boelus, Neb. 



Page 22 



.1 


J' 






• •i 




^ 


"^HHlKr 





Interior of Co. E"s Mess Hall — Taken at Camp Funston 



the officer herded them to the harracks to which they were to he 
assigned. Here they very gently laid away, what afterwards proved 
to he unnecessary baggage, consisting oi silk pajamas, silk hand- 
kerchiefs, carj)et slippers, and perhaps a Thermos bottle and a chest 
protector, which cost many an anxiotis mother and sweetheart con- 
siderable hard work and many late hours that the boy might lie 
comfortable." 

'"Oh, Jack,"' asked Peggy, "you didn't throw away that nice silk 
shirt that 1 spent so much time embroiilering your initials on the 
sleeve?" 

Jack laughed. "I gave it to the Belgians and I think some Bel- 
gian got married in it. 

"They were next issued hats and were trotted over to the liath 
house for a warm bath — ice could hardly have made it colder — it 
was 10:30 and Uncle Sam served notice that breakfast was ready, 
so with their dishes, which by all evidence, must have been manu- 
factured with great speed, the boys lined up for 'chow.' Happy 
Jack, from St. Louis the greasy chow king, handed out a cheese 
sandwich, a salmon sandwich, and a cup of coffee to each man and 
his smile broadened as he studied the expressions on their faces as 
they passed by to the roughly constructed tables. Their next move 
was to scout up cots to sleep on. Now the boys thouoht this would 
surelv he all for one day but out of the stillness ran-^ a command: 
'Wash the windows and do it before dinner.'' Thev did. 

"The afternoon was spent in taking physical examinations, in- 
cluding a shot in the arm. An issue of underwear was handed out 
and this had to J)e marked with vour own initials. This underwear 
was quite a contrast to the B. V. D.'s. So the first twenty-four men of 
Company F retired that night with heavy hearts and with thoughts of 
home racing; through their minds and wondering whv thev had not 

Page 23 




Corporal 

Frank Jenkins 

Riley, Kas. 



Corporal 
James Davis 
St. Paul, Neb. 



Corporal 

Carl E. Borg 

2318 North 27th Ave. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Corporal 

Anton E. Swanson 

1806 Locust St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Corporal 

Charles E. Booth 

University Place 

Lincoln, Neb. 



Corporal 

August Mudloff 

Farwell, Neb. 



Page 24 



gayM CTTTriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiMMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiinii 




: ^ ft ^-r^^2 



^r^ 






<" 



The Original 24 of Co. E Before Uniforms Were Available 

appreciated home and mother just a little more while that privilege 
was theirs." 

*'Was that the reason I dichi't get a letter from you the first day 
you were down there?" asked Peg. "Why didn't you let the windows 
go until the next day so you could write to me? Didn't they have 
any porters?" 

"Plenty of them — I was one," answered Jack. 

"The officers assigned to train the company were Captain John F. 
Symes, First Lieutenant Fred L. Morrison, First Lieutenant Glenn 
K. Spencer and Second Lieutenant Gilbert McDonnough. On Sep- 
tember 8 Sergeant Tom Agar and Sergeant Walter T. Rossiter were 
transferred from the Thirteenth Infantry of the Li. S. Regulars 
for assignment. Sergeant Agar was made first sergeant a short time 
after his arrival. At this time very little was in readiness for the 
new troops as they arrived. Clothing was not available so the men 
were compelled to soldier in civilian attire. The next contingent of 
men consisting of 40 per cent came two weeks later, followed in 
two weeks by another equal sized quota which made the company 
strength 210 men, coming mostly from Nebraska. The entire com- 
pany was assigned to a two-story barracks ( Li5 by 45 feet) located 
near the center of the camp near the old divisional canteen. This 
amount of room was designed to accommodate L50 men, naturally 
210 men occupied all available space, necessitating each man dress- 
ing on his bunk, causing much confusion at the sound of reveille. 
On the lower floor of the same building was the mess hall where the 
regular army ration for troops in garrison was prepared and eaten 
from the mess kit. Tables and benches were also provided in the 
mess hall. Here is where the men were taught the art of making 
"Slum" and first experienced the duties of kitchen police. Althouqjh 
this ration was quite a contrast to mother's cooking, it was whole- 
Page 25 




Corporal 

Thomas B. Lopas 

Box 1778 

Richmond, Va. 



Corporal 

Edward J. Kotik 

St. Paul, Neb. 



Corporal 

William J. Huebner 

Hershey, Neb. 



Corporal 
Fred J. Wright 
Notting Hill, I\Io. 



Corporal 
Elias H. Butler 
Litchfield, Neb. 



Corporal 

Edward J. Peterson 

Spaulding, Neb. 



Page 26 




Inlericr of Co. E's Barracks — Taken at Camp Funston 



some and there was always enough on hand so that no one need be 
hungry. 

'The regulation uniform for drill and fatigue duly was a blue 
denim overall suit, selected without reference to fit, and many had 
breeches that would reach around the waist one and a half time?, 
which of course did not add to the soldier's pride or appearance, 
but as a means of economy they served the purpose. A little later 
0. D. shirts and khaki breeches were issued and worn at retreat, on 
holidays and Sundays. 

"The training of the troops was a very difficult proposition as 
the material for non-commissioned officers must be selected from 
the 210 men who had practically all received the same training, there- 
fore it was necessary to select the best fitted men for these positions. 
The men selected for non-commissioned officers received special 
training in the evening, which consisted of the discussion of drill 
regulations and military tactics. 

"As these men became proficient they were promoted to the 
rank of sergeant and corporal. In these capacities new respon- 
sibilities were given to them and they soon began to study and take 
an active interest in their squads and platoons and by co-operation 
a very good unit was made. An eight-hour drill schedule was put 
into effect which consisted of close order, extended order, physical 
exercises, lectures, instruction on patrollino;, special weapons, target 
shooting and other subjects that all American soldiers are required 
to know. 

"One thing especially difficult was military courtesy or the art 
of learning the proper methods, times and places to salute, and to 
render the various courtesies required by military law to be show^n 
to the flag and all officers. The men will never forget the many 
mistakes and the results of making them, for everywhere officers 

Page 27 




Corporal 

Jesse P. Leuenberger 

Ross Road 

Douglas, Wyo. 



Private 

Emil Olsen 

3609 North 16th St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Corporal 

Edward White 

2929 North 47th Ave. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Corporal 

Edward J. Borzych 

Farwell, Neb. 



Corporal 
Harry Hodgson 
R. F. D. No. 2 
Comstock, Neb. 



Corporal 

William Anderson 

St. Paul, Neb. 



Page 28 




Captain Symms and Co. E"s Basket Ball Team of 1917 



Stood ready and willing to correct their deficiencies, especially in 
saluting." 

"\Vhy," asked Peg, "were they so strict in making you salute 
them?" 

Jack smiled. "Why, you see the salute is mighty hard for a 
civilian to understand," he explained, "but as a matter of fact, we 
do not salute the officer as an individual but we salute the rank 
that he represents." 

"Guard duty was another routine duty that was very difficult to 
learn and many will recall humorous incidents that occurred while 
walking post. Wednesdays, Saturday afternoons, Sundays and holi- 
days were set aside for recreation. The Y. M. C. A. was the most 
available place and furnished moving picture shows, boxing and 
wrestling. There was also plenty of stationery and tables at the 
disposal of all those who wished to write home. At Thanksgiving, 
Christmas and New Years passes were granted to the lucky ones. No 
one outside of the military service will ever realize the meaning of 
that privilege. As fall approached the specialties were studied such 
as grenades, automatic rifles, scouting, patrolling and bayonet 
fighting and this training lasted the greater part of the winter. Later, 
in the month of March, came the special training at Smoky Hill flats 
near Fort Riley. Not only was the training unusuallv strenuous but 
the distance to be marched to and from the training area was most 
noticeable. 

"When the company was first organized rifles were not avail- 
able so as a substitute each man made a dummy out of wood resem- 
bling a rifle and with these they received their early training in the 
manual of arms. A few weeks later Krag rifles, the type used during 
the Spanish-American war. were used and by December the 1917 
Enfield rifle was issued and used through the big struggle. Many 

Page 29 




Corporal 

Washington McLean 

JMorenci, Ariz. 

Box 527 



Corporal 

Paul T. Leonahd 

667 South 26th Ave. 

Omaha. Neb. 



Corporal 

Joseph Koran 

3118 Myrtle St, 

Omaha, Neb. 



Corporal 

Frank S. Havlik 

.5434 South 18th St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Corporal 
Bert E. McMasters 

Lewiston, Neb. 



Corporal 

WA1.TER Collins 

Pittsburg, Kas. 



Page 30 




Field Inspection at Cam]) Funston. Kansas 



days during the winter months were spent on the rifle range west of 
Fort Riley. It was very cold and disagreeable, nevertheless the 
course was completed on scheduled time, also many days were spent 
in digging trenches in the rocky soil on Carpenter hill about three 
and a half miles from camp. This practice system of trenches was 
large enough to accommodate a division of troops and when finally 
completed a few days were spent watling around through them in the 
mud and slush in the pretense of holding them against enemy attacks. 
Early in February the training course was considered completed and 
the men were then transferred to go overseas to fight with troops 
already in France. By April 1 the company was reduced in number 
to such an extent that only a few privates and the non-commissioned 
officers, with the officers remained." 

Dad looked puzzled. "What was the idea of holding back the 
non-commissioned officers;" he asked. 

"Well, you see these men were carefully trained to act as in- 
structors for the new quota of men that were to reach camp April 
26th." Jack explained. 

"Men included in this new quota were from the states of Ne- 
braska, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota and Arizona. They were 
taken to Detention Camp No. 2 after receiving their physical exam- 
ination and a complete military uniform including blue denims. 

"It will be a day long remembered by all men who were calleil 
upon to pass through the mill on that date. Of course, bv this 
lime the routine of introducing the man of the civilian world into 
military life was well organized and their system was really wonder- 
ful. However, the men were not allowed to waste any time in efforts 
to secure even a close fit in clothing, especiallv shoes which averao:ed 
two sizes larger than the ones usually fit by the skilled shoe sales- 
man." 

"Wliat did vou draw. Jack?" Peggy asked. "I suppose a pair 
of English last shoes." 

Page 31 




Sergeant 
Ralph Rainey 

661 25th St. 
Des Moines, la. 



Corporal 

George Dwyer 

Albin, Neb. 



Corporal 

Frederick Ehrike 

Colon, Neb. 



Corporal 

John E. Oberreuter 

c|o Steril Waterproof Mfg Co. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

William Leeder 

3901 North 21st St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Frank A. Tuma 

2420 South 23d St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Page 32 



"J\ot exactly; however, they lasted quite a while on account of 
the hob nails in the soles." 

"What do you mean by hobnails?" 

"Well, they were short spikes driven in the soles of your shoes 
to serve the same purpose as non-skid automobile tires. It makes 
me laugh every time 1 think of the awful suspense the boys experi- 
enced waiting their turn to go through the chute to get their physical 
examination together with their shot in the arm and elsewhere. Be- 
lieve me, Napoleon never felt any more separated from the outside 
world when they banished him to the isle of St. Helena than the 
boys felt when they were waiting to be ushered in to receive their 
shot in the arm. 

"After the final initiation the boys, arrayed like Solomon in all 
his glory, with their new duds on, loaded up their barracks bags 
with all their surplus apparel and treasures, which included numer- 
ous gifts given to them before their departure from home — pictures 
of the old dog on the farm and the girls they left behind them — and 
boarded trucks to take a ride out to Detention Camp No. 2. 

"On the trip out nobody seemed to have a lot to say and every- 
body was nursing his left arm. It rained like blazes and the boys 
were all tired when they arrived having passed through a very 
strenuous ordeal ; however, there was no landlord to greet us when 
we arrived, neither was there to be any rest for some. The boys had 
to go rustle wood to build fires and also rustle cots to sleep on and 
it was long before morning before anyone rolled into bed. It sure 
was some day." 

Mother shook her head. "Goodness, it would have seemed 
that they would have been a little more thoughtful of your comfort," 
she suggested. 

"Well, it did seem kind of tough, but of course it proved to be 
a very mild experience in comparison with what we went through 
later. They were just teaching us to get used to roughing it. 

"The next seventeen days were spent in the first stages of mili- 
tary training which were equally divided in close order drill and 
laborious exercises, such as carrying sacks of rocks from the tops of 
small mountains which bordered this camp. Other duties were to 
try and please the permanent personnel of the camp by keeping the 
streets policed up, scrubbing out your tent, and perhaps digging 
mains to lay sewer pipe. But beinp^ men possessed with the ability 
to grasp the situation quickly because of their past positions in life, 
they soon became adept students in the military course of instruc- 
tion and began to show up well. 

"With the daily routine the men were making wonderful prog- 
ress and on May 16 they were divided as replacements to the differ- 
ent units. First Lieutenant Fred L. Morrison called for the required 
number of men to fill up Company E to full war strength of 250 
men. These men were marched to Camp Funston under his com- 
mand together with the veteran non-commissioned officers of Com- 
pany E and assigned to barracks with Captain .John F. Symes as 
company commander. The next formation was for the purpose of 
arranging them as to size and assigning them to squads and platoons 

Page 33 




Cook 
William R. Everett 
Central City, Neb. 



Cook 

Harry Novitsky 

1010 North 16th St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Cook 

Vincent Ziemieski 

1162 Mt. Vernon St. 

Camden, N. Y. 



Cook 

Henry Novitsky 

1010 North 16th St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

RusHiN Sellers 

South Side 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 
R. 0. Curtis 
Watson, La. 



^# 



Page 34 



for intensive training. You must always keep in mind that this April 
26th and May quota of men together with the remaining officers and 
non-commissioned officers are the men that went overseas with me. 

"The next move was the issue of field equipment which was 
soon accomplishd. After being instructed in roiling packs, the com- 
pany was ordered to the rifle range, which meant their first long 
hike with full packs. Through the disagreeable sand and dust, 
accompanied by dry hot winds, the rifle range was reached with all 
present except a few who were compelled to fall out because of lack 
of strength to make the entire trip the first time out. 

"'The different ranges were shot with very pleasing results and 
most of the boys got quite a KICK out of this. When this was com- 
pleted the company returned to their barracks for the purpose of 
preparing for their departure to New York. 

"After two days of hustle and bustle, on May 22 Company E, 
with other units, entrained for the Eastern coast, arriving at Camp 
Mills, Long Island May 25. Here they were issued the 0. D. wool 
uniforms and any shortage required to make their equipment com- 
plete. 

"Our trip from Camp Funston to New York was a very enjoy- 
able one. During several stops the boys were marched around the 
towns and cities to give them a little exercise and let them straighten 
out their legs a bit. One of the chief pastimes was taking the names 
and addresses of all the girls along the trip and promising them 
letters just as soon as we arrived in France. The American Red 
Cross, was ever thoughtful of our needs and they handed us cigar- 
ettes, candy and sandwiches. 

"At the end of nine days the company was ready to walk the 
gangplank, which took place June 3. At last on board the "Baltic" 
with sleeping quarters assigned the men bid farewell to good old 
America and made ready to accustom themselves to their new sur- 
roundings across the big pond. All of the men were ordered to stay 
below the deck until we cleared the harbor and were on the sea. 
When we were well started we were all permitted to go on deck and 
most of the boys for the first time in their lives viewed a wonderful 
picture. It was a beautiful day and the ocean was perfectly calm. 
It was one vast expanse of blue water. 

"The Baltic was an English ship flying the Union Jack and 
was one of a convoy of eight transports, one British cruiser, and 
numerous submarine chasers. American aviators were continually 
flyng over our heads and waving at the boys. The route taken was 
in a northerlv direction which at one time afforded us a view of 
Scotland and Ireland. We finally landed at Liverpool, England, 
June 15. Accommodations for eating will never be forgotten. The 
food was prepared by British cooks and was not very palatable to 
the Yanks and together with that uncertain feeling, seasickness, the 
meals were not overly appreciated. 

"We had nearly five hundred nurses aboard this ship and under 
normal conditions this would have meant a 'hot time in the old town 
tonight, my baby,' but about the only time th^t the enlisted men got 

Page 35 




Bugler 
Frank J. L. Benda 

Old, Neb. 



Bugler 

Lawrence X. Leahy 

Omaha, Neb. 



Bugler 

Aura S. Craig 

Magnet, Neb. 



Mechanic 

Julius Schmaltz 

Archer, Neb. 



Mechanic 

John P. Exes 

402 East 11th St. 

North Platte, Neb. 



Mechanic 

Frank K. T. Schudel 

North Loup, Neb. 



Page 36 



iiiiii iiiiiiiiiinMiiiiiiiii ] niiiii II 



a chance lo talk with them was for a brief period of one or two 
minutes during abandon ship drill. The nurses had first class acco- 
modations on the upper decks and the enlisted men were not allowed 
up there. We did, however, have the pleasure of watching the officers 
playing a game with the girls which resembled croquet very much 
except that they pushed a block instead of knocking a ball around. 
It looked to me about as comical and exciting as a pair of crutches. 

Peg was curious. "Why was it, Jack," she asked "that they 
wouldn t let the enlisted men associate with the nurses?" 

"The nurses are subject to certain military restrictions the same 
as the soldiers, and are disciplined the same as the men," he 
answered. 

"Six other fellows and myself had charge of a life boat that we 
had to lower from the upper deck in case the boat was submarined. 
In this boat we were to load thirty-five nurses and put out to sea. 
Personally I didn't care for any of this Robinson Crusoe stuff, but 
it wouldn't have been so bad after all. 

"Company E was marched from the ship to the railroad station 
where they entrained for Romsey, England, reaching that camp 
June 17. The King of England extended his welcome to the 
American troops upon their arrival at Liverpool by means of printed 
cards which were given to each soldier. 

"At Camp Romsey we were assigned to tents, each accommo- 
dating about three squads. Six days were spent in a continuance 
of the routine training schedule, including a hike each day. Also 
at this camp another school for non-commissioned officer material 
was introduced as there was an extreme shortage of sergeants and 
corporals, owing to the company being at full war strength. The 
ration at this camp was also very poor as we were still on British 
rations, consisting of dark bread, cheese and marmalade, and once 
in a while some meat. 

"England was a land of flowers. There were flowers every- 
where, around the houses, in the fields, and along the roadsides. It 
struck me rather funny not to see any frame houses, as every build- 
ing was a brick structure with a tile or sod roof. 

"Along our journey from Liverpool to Romsev we were greeted 
by the women, children and old men. The little t^t.? woidd run up 
alongside of the train whenever it would stop and say, 'Sam, give 
me a cents.' This kind of tickled the boys and they showered their 
American pennies on the children. We noticed very few young men 
in the section of country throuoh which we passed and w^e were told 
by the women that all the available men were servin"' their country. 

"The next move was a hike to Southampton, doughboy stvle, 
where we boarded an old excursion boat headed for Le Havre, 
France. The night spent on this ship crossing the Enolish Channel 
proved to be a terrible one as the boat was overloaded and did not 
allow enough room for the boys to lie down. However, it finallv 
passed and Le Havre was reached the next morning. 

"We unloaded here and marched through the town of Le Havre. 
It was a typical French city with its narrow streets and stone build- 
Page 37 




Private First Clasa 

George W. Gricsby 

Peyke Bros., 2d and Main 

Kansas City, Mo. 



Private First Class 

Karl W. Nielson 

Pickrell, Neb. 



Private First Class 
Alfred T. Miller 

R. F. D. No. 2 
Lawrenceburg, Ky. 



Private First Class 

William C. Baker 

Earline, la. 



Private First Class 

William Rudolph 

3618 South 27th. South Side 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 
Frank Ferris 
Platte, S. D. 



Page 38 



ings. We were greeted on every corner by French maids who had 
oranges and figs to sell to the Sammies. After marching for about 
three kilometers we reached the outskirts of the city where we 
marched up a winding hill with an elevation of about 15 degrees 
and finally reached a rest camp. This was a pretty little spot as 
we had a commanding view of the sea and we could see the fishing 
boats and transports lying at anchor. There was a large number 
of German prisoners working at this camp building barracks and 
making excavations. 

"After two days spent at this camp cleaning up and getting our 
faces washed, we again fell in to retrace our steps back through the 
city where we were to entrain in cars which were labeled '40 men or 
eight horses.' We all climbed aboard these stock cars about thirty- 
five to a car and some of the boys who were quick at mathematics 
tried to figure out sleeping quarters which would give each man 
ample room without having someone's feet in his lace all night. 
However, this proved a failure and we adopted the spoon fashion 
method of sleeping. After one day and two nights on these sleepers 
we arrived in the middle of the night at Liffol Le Grand. Here we 
received the command, 'Everybody off and sling equipment,' and 
we started marching up a hill which seemed to have no end, leading 
towards Brechainville. We arrived about noon, tired and hungry. 
At the command, 'Everybody fall out,' everybody stretched out on 
the grass and took a good rest except Bert Garrison and his staff 
of cooks who hurried about and prepared some coffee and hard 
rations for the boys to eat. 

"After an hour's rest we were marched over to barracks to 
which we were assigned. Everybody climbed into their bunks 
which were nothing more than 2 by 4 uprights and boards laid 
crosswise to sleep on, and took a good rest until supper time. 

"Brechainville was about sixty kilometers from the front line 
and with the artillery practicing to the left of us and the Germans 
shooting up their flares at night over on the front line we received 
our first vision of the fighting. Every night the Germans would 
present us with a Fourth of July celebration and we would all sit 
down on the grass and watch the different colored flares and wonder 
when our time would come to go up to the big show. 

"There was considerable speculation as to the time we would 
go up and of course some of the old regulars would tell us about 
fighting in the Philippines and the lieutenants would put on a dig- 
nified look and express their opinions, but as a matter of fact no 
one but the men higher up knew when we were to go. 

"This village was a typical little French village with a few 
hundred population. Here we first saw how the French peasants 
spent their days. Harvest time for wheat was near at hand and we 
saw how they harvested it by their old fashioned methods, using the 
scythe and cradle. The first mail received from home for over a 
month was delivered and all were glad to hear from those they had 

Page 39 



mmmmm 



w — "^ 




Private First Class 
R. L. Kaltenback 
Central City, Neb. 



Private First Class 

Frank Cochran 

Barada, Neb. 



Private First Class 
Joseph R. Krotz 
Glen Carbon, 111. 



Private First Class 

Lawrence Powers 

1401 East Evans Ave. 

Pueblo, Colo. 



Private First Class 

Julius E. Nordstrom 

4348 Franklin St 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private First Class 
Joseph Couture 
Rosalie, Neb. 



Page 40 




Co. E on Their Wednesday Hike Under Full Equipment 



left. From that time on mail came only at intervals of from one to 
three weeks. 

"We immediately took up our duties of intensive training and 
believe me it was intensive training. This was practically the same 
training that we received at Funston with much more snap and 
earnestness. We all realized by this time that we were going up 
against the real dope and it would be no child's play, causing every- 
one to take special interest in bayonet practice, throwing of grenades, 
rifle practice and night patrols. 

"About this time our tobacco supply ran out and the boys were 
bidding pretty high for a sack of 'Bull Durham' but Uncle Sam 
came to the rescue and issued us our first supply of Bull Durham, 
one sack per week to a man. From then on Bull Durham proved 
to be the old standby and was ever a friend to the soldier through- 
out the entire fight. 

"As no place for recreation was provided here such as a Y. M. 
C.A. the boys had to find their own means of having a good time. 
Most of them found solace in the quaint old cafes by 'tanking up' 
on good old French Vin Rouge and Vin Blanc and a few at times 
managed to get an over supply of champagne under their belt, and 
then singing, foot racing, and almost any indoor sport was popular. 
This was too good to last long so the colonel and his assistants 
hoisted up the old Temperance Union banner and locked up the 
town. The next day Lieutenant Bowser formed a detail of military 
police to regulate the booze traffic and preserve order. It was a 
comical sight to see Heavy Sanders marching around with a nine- 
point cannon hanging on his belt trying to establish order. Heavy 

Page 41 




Private First Class 

Lester B. Dalton 

Plattsmouth, Neb. 



Private 

James R. Fried 

Oakland, Neb. 



Private First Class 

Fred J. Olsen 

Valparaiso, Neb. 



Private 

Harman L. James 

Wayne, Neb. 



Private 

Albert L. Byas 

Hunt, Tex. 



Private 

Chester Duszynski 

4626 S. 33d St., South Side 

Omaha, Neb. 



m^ 



wtmS^^^^^^n I If J 




Page 42 




The Long and Sliort of Co. E 

had charge of the detail hut he was just like all policemen, there 
was a lot he couldn't see. 

"The first American holiday to be spent on foreign soil was 
July Fourth, which was a big contrast to what we were used to on 
our side of the pond. Captain Cline, who was then commanding 
F Company came to the rescue and delivered a very interesting 
address. He touched briefly upon the early days of France in her 
many wars and her long list of kings and statesmen, both good and 
bad, and how she overthrew her old monarchial form of govern- 
ment and established the French Republic. He also spoke of the 
relation existing between our own republic form of government 
and theirs. In connection with this he tried to explain to the boys 
why they had traveled across the sea and left their goods homes that 
republics like theirs and ours should live and not go down under 
the iron heel of emperors and kings. It was an elegant address, 
well delivered. 

"The remainder of the day was spent entertaining the French 
people with various drills, foot racing, a baseball game and several 
selections from the band. 



Page 43 




Private First Class 
Henry A. Roark 

Central City, Neb. 



Private First Class 

Glenn Howard 

Beatrice, Neb. 



Private 

Dalbert Preston 

South Side Sta., Route 4 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private First Class 

Thomas F. Hughes 

612 South 38th St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Alfred E. Peterson 

R. F. D. No. 2 

Herman, Neb. 



Private 

Addie D. McMahon 

Miller, S. D. 



Page 44 



"The French ladies presented Captain Symes with a beautiful 
bouquet ot tlowers to show their appreciation. The little French 
girls and boys were allowed to participate in the games and the 
otticers and soldiers took coins out ot tueir pocKets to give to the 
winners. The French people seemed to enjoy it thoroughly and 
altogether the day seemed to be a success because tlie Americans 
had made the French happy. 

"A continuance of the same old grind of drill prevailed with 
no change except Sundays until July 14 which was the French Inde- 
pendence day known as tiie Bastile Day which was observed in a 
similar manner. 

"On July 17 Congressman Reavis paid us a visit and shook 
hands with all the boys. He made an address and told us all about 
what was going on back home. A good many of the boys he knew 
personally and they were glad to hear from home again. He took 
the names and addresses of all the boys and wrote their folks a 
personal letter upon his return to the states. It seemed good to 
see a man from home. 

"The latter part of July we received notice to fall in with full 
equipment for the purpose of making a thirty-two hour maneuver. 
We marched out about fifteen miles to an old system of French 
trenches. We located in a timber and pitched tents about six o'clock 
in the evening. It started to rain but we maneuvered all night in 
the rain assimilating holding the trenches against the enemy. We 
did not get to sleep until about six o'clock the next morning, and to 
cap it all, very few supplies reached us, and there was a shortage 
of water. The maneuver ended about six in the morning and we 
were allowed to cut wet weeds to put in our pup tents for a bed to 
sleep on for a few hours before preparing to return to camp. Our 
return march began just a little before noon and will never be for- 
gotten by all those present. 

Oh, yes, I nearly forgot to tell you about the three Frenchmen 
who were attached to our unit to instruct the boys in the use of auto- 
matic rifles. They proved quite an asset in helping the boys and 
teaching them to shoot. They particularly became attached to 
Bugler Leahy, who entertained them with his various sketches of 
Napoleon Bonaparte. Bugler Leahy took the responsibility upon 
his shoulders to teach them the many little American phrases so 
commonly used among the American soldiers. They were adept 
students and learned fast but there was one thing that Leahy forgot 
and that was to teach them the proper time to use the phrases and 
they were alwavs pulling the wrong one at the wrong time. To show 
their appreciation for Bugler Leahy's efforts they in turn taught 
him the French language and customs. The French customs, of 
course, consisted of singing and spiritual entertainment and many 
a night the old walls of the barracks ranq; with the sonQ;s of the 
merrymakers. They were good scouts and liked the Americans and 
thev were three sorry Frenchmen when they were ordered to join 
their own forces. 

"May 1st, being our last payday, money was almost a thing of 

Page 45 




Private First Class 

James F. Cook 

Neola, la. 



Private 

William G. Heyne 

Pender, Neb. 



Private First Class 

BURRELL J. BURRESS 

c|o National Refining Co. 
Omaha, Neb. 



Private 
William Monk 
Blossom, Tex. 



Private First Class 
Leo Westfield 
St. David, Ariz. 



Private First Class 

Joseph Schwarzburg 

222 North 7th St. 

Hannibal, Mo. 



Page 46 



the past. The boys had no money to buy figs and vin rouge with 
and the situation was becoinmg serious. Captain bymes came to 
the rescue and issued 'beaucoup francs' out of his own pocket to 
the boys to tide them over until pay day. He did not make any 
record of the loans but simply put the boys on their honor to pay 
him back, in the latter part of July we received notice in the way 
of an order to prepare ourselves for pay day." 

"What do you mean by preparuig yourself for pay day?" asked 
George. 

"Well, George, you have to be clean shaven, have your shoes 
shined and your sidearms must be absolutely clean. The 'top 
kicker' then calls the roll and lines the men up according to rank. 
The rankest first, such as the sergeants and corporals. We are then 
marched over to the building in which we are to be paid and as the 
company commander calls your name you answer, 'Here, sir,' step 
up to the tiesk, salute the paymaster, pick up the money and you 
are paid. The night after pay day is generally a big one in camp. 

"On July 13 Lieutenant Fred L. Morrison and First Sergeant 
L. E. Wertz were sent up to Second Corps school to receive some 
special training in French warfare methods. On July 31 Captain 
John F. Symes was relieved as company commander taking com- 
mand of the third battalion and Lieutenant Glenn K. Spencer was 
assigned to command the company. Along about this time Lieuten- 
ant Dougherty, who had taken part in the April drive with another 
unit, was attached to the company for duty. 

"Captain Symes was a man who was a strong believer in mili- 
tary discipline and courtesy. He preached military discipline from 
morning until night and the boys thought he was a little hard on 
them at times but they soon began to see the necessity of military 
discipline and why he was putting so much stress on this subject. 
He could see into the future and knew that there would come a time 
when the boys would have to go into action and it would be neces- 
sary for the unit to move off in clock-like manner, and they appre- 
ciated their training when they entered their first engagement and 
realized that Captain Symes' judgment wasn't so far off after all. 

"After disposing of all surplus equipment everything was put 
in readiness to go to the front. On August 5 trucks came and we 
journeyed forth all that day and night arriving next morning at 
Trondes, a little town north of Toul. That night we were loaded on 
flat cars on a little narrow gauge railroad and hauled to Rehanne 
woods, which was a reserve position of the front line. 

"I must tell you about the trip on this train. When we climbed 
aboard this train there was a bunch of military police to assist with 
the loading. They were very peculiar fellows and kidded us about 
going up in the front lines. They furnished us with some brilliant 
advice about how to dodge shells and how to hit the dirt when they 
come over. This information of course was gathered from other 
troops returning from the front line with whom they had talked. 
Our officers gave us instructions not to talk above a whisper because 
the Germans might hear us and start shootinqr. We were not allowed 

Page 47 




Private First Class 

Pearl B. Reynolds 

Wheetland, Mo. 



Private First Class 

Albin Hansen 

Wahoo, Neb. 



Private First Class 

Edwin F. Goertz 

702 Maple St. 

Wausaw, Wis. 



Private First Class 

Peter Gertensen 

Sansock, S. D. 



Private First Class 

Ben F. Neeper 

Bisbee, Ariz. 



Private First Class 
John W. Scott 

Box 655 
Morenci, Ariz 



Page 48 



to smoke because they might see us and know that troops were mov- 
ing up. All this time the old engine was shooting sparks about a 
hundred feet in the air and whistling at various intervals. All the 
brakemen on this train were kept busy answering about a million 
questions and of course they came back with some pretty clever 
answers. 

"Upon our arrival whispered commands came into effect and 
after marching around the camp about three times in the mud and 
rain sleeping quarters were finally located in camouflaged barracks. 
We all tumbled in our bunks and spent our first night in reserve 
lines. The Eighty-second Division had previously held this sector 
and the Eighty-ninth Division took it over, also including some of 
the sector that the French were now holding. 

"As we took this position the first battalion of our regiment 
moved up in the front line and on the night of August 7-8 the Boche 
sent over a gas barrage which lasted several hours causing heavy 
casualties. 

"All the next day the ambulances drove through our camp haul- 
ing the gassed men to the field hospital and we all had occasion to 
see the deadly effects of gas. We soon began to think that our gas 
masks were our best friends. 

"The second night the company was again formed to lake up a 
support position at Hammonville, preparatory to going up to re- 
lieve the first battalion in the front line. We were marched in two 
single files from Rehanne woods to Hammonville with an interval of 
fifteen yards between files. The idea for having such a big interval 
was merely protection against shell fire. At such points along the 
march where road was under German observation they were camou- 
flaged with brush. This movement was made with the greatest cau- 
tion. At Hammonville we secured our rest in the day time and those 
who were not doing guard duty were detailed to dig trenches during 
the night. These trenches were for the purpose of strengthening 
our position in the event that we might be driven back in this sector. 

"A majority of the officers and non-commissioned officers were 
detailed in advance to go up to the front line to become acquainted 
with the conditions as they actually existed in the front line. On 
August 11 we were relieved by the Third battalion for the purpose 
of taking up our position in the front line. We were met near Beau- 
mont by the officers and non-commissioned officers who had been 
up in the lines and were now familiar with the positions we were 
to hold, and they so successfully piloted us to these positions that 
the Germans gained no knowledge of the relief. However on our 
way up the Boche sent up flares which illuminated the entire heavens 
and at the first sight of these the boys hit the dirt in a little less 
than nothing with no commands given. 

"The company occupied a sector of trenches just back of Jury 
woods and established a post command in a dugout about forty feet 
deep. This dugout was a very popular hangout for those who could 
produce an excuse sufficient to entitle them to these quarters. 

"This entire sector being so heavily saturated with gas and the 

Page 49 




Private Fiist Class 

Isaac Carlson 

2832 South 38th Ave. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Winifred L. Lindley 

Washville, 111. 



Private 

John V. Swenson 

Arlington, S. D. 



Private 

Elmer R. Creech 

Olney, 111. 



Private 

Earl E. Donoho 

Texico, 111. 



Private 

William A. Mayes 

No. 6 Lucy St. 

Mobile, Ala. 



Page 50 



engineers not having had time to cope with the situation, it was 
very necessary for the officers to take every precaution for rhe men's 
safety. The men were formed in reliefs to stand guard in the trenches 
during the night and in the daytime we were detailed to repair 
trendies and keep our sector policed up which did not allow a great 
deal of time for rest. 

"Certain members of the headquarters platoon were detailed 
regularly to stand as gas guard." 

"Goodness," exclaimed Peggy, "Jack how did you ever get any 
rest?" 

"Well, Peg, you see we did not figure to get a great deal of rest 
in the front line, but anticipated getting our rest upon our return to 
a support position. 

"Outside of scattering shells which caused the old gas horn to 
sound regularly, nothing unusual happened. Of course we sent out 
our nightly patrols over 'No Man's Land' for the purpose of gain- 
ing information of the enemy's movements. Along with all the se- 
riousness and hard knocks that the boys were called upon lo under- 
go in the front lines, there were many little incidents of comedy that 
were bound to arise, which was so characteristic of the Yanks. I 
remember on one occasion how Corporal Simon Jacobsen was hold- 
ing a very dangerous position with an automatic team located near 
our observation post which we called 0. P. Joe. There was a patrol 
in charge of one of F Company's lieutenants formed as skirmishers 
directly to the left of Corporal Jacobsen's position. Feeling very 
much in the mood for something to happen, Corporal Jacobsen 
picked up a couple of stones and threw them close to where the 
lieutenant was lying. After hearing a noise of shifting of positions, 
the lieutenant, without loss of time, crawled over to Jacobsen in- 
forming him that the Boche was very close and be ready to protect 
them with cross fire from his automatic rifle. With great effort the 
corporal kept his face straight until the lieutenant returned to his 
position and then the corporal and his men enjoyed a good laugh. I 
also remember Corporal William Anderson, who had watched a 
post so long that it began to dance in front of him causing him to 
feel justified in firing several shots from his automatic rifle before 
he became convinced that the post wouldn't fire back. 

"On August 15 First Lieutenant Fred L. Morrison and First 
Sergeant Wertz returned from school and Lieutenant Morrison took 
command of the company relieving Lieutenant Spencer. 

"On the morning of August 19 about dawn, Fritz surprised us 
with a fifty-five minute bombardment, the shells dropping thick and 
fast on our position. All men who were not standing to, were or- 
dered to fix bayonets and to be ready to greet the Boche when they 
come over, and at the same time we were ordered to keep our gas 
masks on. We had been informed earlier in the evening that the 
Germans were anticipating a raid on our trenches but for some rea- 
son they got cold feet and did not come over.. Lieutenant Morrison 
leisurely lit a cigarette, joked with the boys and told them to keep 

Page 51 




Private First Class 

John A. McCune 

Weeping Water, Neb. 



Private 

Charles H. Delherbe 

738 Marigny St. 

New Orleans, La. 



Private 

Jammy a. Dort 

Pawnee City, Neb. 



Private 

Mercuric Limza 

Salida, Colo. 



Private 
Harry S. Bowen 
DeMossville, Ky. 



Private 

Chester Morgan 

Route No. 1, Box 68 

Mt. Vernon, 111. 



Page 52 



cool and not to expect the Boche until they lifted their barrao-e and 
threw it back of us. 

"We were relieved from these positions on August 22 by the 
Third battalion and returned to Rehanne woods, staying one nio^ht 
and were taken to Boucq by truck, where we were billeted in French 
barns Here the time was spent in regular drill schedule. The drill 
field was located on the top of a hill which was almost a young 
mountain which gave the boys a real workout marching to and from 
the drill grounds. The town of Boucq was situated on a side hill 
and put one in mind of scenery shown in the Pathe weekly. It was 
one of the more prosperous little French towns. It was during our 
stay in this camp that our company suffered its first death on foreign 
soil. Corporal Gilmer and Corporal Heath were instructing a rifle 
grenadier squad of the Fourth platoon on the morning of August 27 
and during the course of instruction a premature explosion occurred 
which shattered the tromblom on the rifle and a piece of metal struck 
Corporal Gilmer on the head causing instant death. Corporal Gilm.er 
was one of the old veterans of the company and his loyalty to his 
company and comrades had built for him a large circle of friends 
and his death came as a great shock to all members of the companv. 

"Our next move was on the night of August 30 when we hiked 
back to Hammonville, a distance of about 18 kilometers. Our duties 
here were practically the same as when we were up here the first 
time and on September 7 we were ordered to again make the re- 
lief in the front line. 

"This time we took up a position in Jury woods, which was sev- 
eral hundred yards in advance of our former position. The fourth, 
first and second platoons held the front line with the third in support 
at the company P. C. The weather had taken a decided change now 
and 'Sunny France' had became rainy and the days and nights in 
the trenches with the rats and mud was anything but pleasant. Our 
new position was more dangerous than our previous one owing to the 
fact that we were in the woods which were continually being gassed 
by the Germans. Mount Sec, one of the strongest fortified points in 
the Toul sector, which cost the French thousands of lives in their 
attempt to take it by an infantry charge during the early part of the 
war, was located just a short distance ahead and with the use of field 
glasses we could observe the German activities at that point very 
successfully. 

"Our patrols were sent out each night to get information con- 
cerning the German movements. It was no joke to get out on one of 
these patrols because you not only ran the chance of clashing with 
an enemy patrol, but were continually being stopped by your own 
men in the front line as you returned. You see the only means of 
getting back into our own lines was by the use of the countersign 
which was changed each night. The boys in the trenches being on 
a continual strain were unusually nervous and were liable to shoot 
at almost any moving object unless thev were verv sure that they 
were our own men. 

"While we were holding this sector the French and American 

Page 53 




Private 
John E. Jewell 
Faimersburg, Ind. 



Private 

Robert Woods 

Alvin, Ky. 



Private First Class 

Christ E. Hedagaard 

Luck, Wis. 



Private 
Gay W. Montgomery 

Suit, N. C. 



Private 

Ben Borgerding 

Corntown, Ky. 

Pendleton, Colo. 



Private 

John T. Encberg 

Hetland, S. D. 



Faee 54 




Taken During Our Advance on the St. Mihiel Drive 



artillery were continually moving up and taking their positions as 
to the size of their guns along this entire sector. Some of the 
smaller guns were within a few feet of the front lines while the 
larger ones were located as far back as ten kilometers. I never 
imagined that there was so much artillery in the whole allied army. 
At places it was hub to hub. 

"After five days and five nights spent in these trenches with 
very little rest, on the morning of September 12 at 1 o'clock we were 
relieved by the Forty-second Division and with much difficulty the 
company was reorganized and taken to the back of Jury woods, 
where they were informed for the first time that they were to go over 
the top at .5 o'clock sharp.. We were then marched to the Fliry road, 
where we dropped packs and made up our light packs which con- 
sisted of toilet articles and two days' rations. Most of the boys were 
so excited that they lost most of their rations and in some cases most 
of their toilet articles. 

"We were then marched to Flirv bridge where we waited in 
readiness. A few minutes before 5 o'clock the machine guns started 
their barrage and everything was made in readiness for the thrill 
that comes with the first time over the top. During the entire four 
hours our artillery was putting over a barrage the magnitude of 
which was never before experienced by the Germans. The German 
artillery fired back feebly but their batteries were soon silenced 
and battered to pieces. 

"The sky was blood red and the noise was deafening and Dante 
himself could not have dreamed a more vivid picture of hell. I often 

Page 55 




Private 
Charles U. Dubel 

Chadron, Neb. 



Private First Class 

John J. Stefacek 

2909 South 25th St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 
Mack G. Lane 

Pender, Neb. 



Private First Class 

Desari Costello 

Esmond, S. D. 



Private 
Stormes 
0. Station 
Umaha. Neb. 



Private 

John R. Landrum 

Route No. 2 

Dry Ridge, Ky. 



Page 56 




The Remains <>i a German Artillery Emplacement Durin' 
Our Advance on the St. Mihiel 



wondered, during these few hours while the artillery was dealing 
out death and utter destruction to the German forces if they still be- 
lieved in the kaiser's motto, 'Gott Mit Uns.' At exactly 5 o'clock 
our company commander. Lieutenant Fred L. Morrison, gave the 
command to go forward. As we climbed up over the embankment 
with bayonets fixed and loaded down with grenades and our nerves 
geared up to the highest pitch we experienced our first thrill of ac- 
tual battle. 

"On and on we went in the mad, wild rush through barb wire 
entanglements and across deep trenches, which in some cases were 
so wide that some of the smaller men would misjudge the distance 
and fall in as they were trying to cross and would require the as- 
sistance of a comrade to pull them out. Being continually under 
the enemy's machine gun fire it was necessary for each little group of 
men to take cover in shell holes or trenches according to their own 
judgment as we pushed forward. By this time the morale of the Ger- 
man forces was broken and we were sending prisoners to the rear in 
large nunibej *he Germans discovered that we were taking 

prisoners in^ ''ing them, as they had been previously in- 

formed by their ^. ler? *hey appeared mighty glad to sur- 

render and be taken by us. 

"Our first stop, which was in the middle of the day, was in a 
sort of valley protected on all sides by brush and highlands where 
we had our first bite to eat, hard ratons. No time was wasted after 
we had eaten and we immediately took up pursuit. Practically every 
member of the company shared in the taking of prisoners before the 
day was ended. We had advanced beyond the trenches by this time 
and were engaged in open warfare so it was necessary when we 
reached the hill near Euvazin to dig in for the first time. 

"You know we each carried a little shovel on the back of our 
packs which proved to be a very dear friend and it was with these 
that we dug the little holes to crawl in which furnished us protec- 
tion for the night. During this whole drive the airplanes worked in 



Page 57 




Private First Class 

Harry Zabel 

Quenemo, Kas. 



Private 

Harold P. Gideon 

Davey, Neb. 



Private 

Walter A. Henderson 

Bardwell, Ky. 



Private 

Arthur K. Campbell 

Carson, la. 



Private 

Harry Tissman 

504 Alfred Ave. 

Winnipeg, Canada 



Private 

Herbert N. Agee 

Owenton, Ky. 



Page 58 




A German Machine Gun Nest — Furnished by a German Prisoner 



perfect harmony with the infantry and artillery. They would swoop 
down on the German trenches and cut loose with their machine guns 
with deadly effect. By this time the Huns had reorganized their 
artillery with such success that they were shelling our position heav- 
ily, causing many casualties in companies who were supporting us on 
the right and left, however, luck seemed to be with us and our losses 
were light. I will never forget the sight in a unit a short distance 
to our left. Fritz sent over a shell which scored a direct hit on a 
squad of men killing every man. 

"I forgot to mention that Second Lieutenant Carl Goldsbery 
had been attached to the company August 25 for duty. Lieutenant 
Goldsberry had seen previous action in the April drive together with 
Lieutenant Dougherty, and the experince of ths two young lieuten- 
ants proved to be quite an asset to the company. They were both 
daredevils and full of pep. 

"After the boys finished digging their next thought was to get 
something to eat as our rations were practically exhausted, so a de- 
tail from, each squad were allowed to go foraging. But the only 
thing they could find were cabbage and turnip patches so the boys 
ate raw cabbage and turnips for their supper. 

"All night long death crys could be heard from the lips of un- 
fortunate comrades on our right and left following the explosion of 
the German shells. The next morning the drive was continued and 
on the night of the 13th we haulted near Benny and again dug in. 
This time more pains were taken to establish our lines for fear of 
counter-attacks. Here for the first time during the drive our kitchen 
caught up with us and located in the town of Benny. Our food was 
cooked in Benny and carried out to the company in containers by 
men detailed from the company. It was necessary for us to eat our 

Page 59 




Private 

Oscar T. Kelley 

Tindell, S. D. 



Piivate 

Fred Mohrman 

2117 Ohio St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Piivate 

Herman Mercuric 

2802 Laurel Ave. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Lawrence O'Connor 

1420 VL> Sherwood Ave. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

N. J. Trook 

Syracuse, Neb. 



Private 

Tony Ritzo 

1020 South 21st St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Page 60 



meals before the sun was up and after sun down because we had 
to protect ourselves from aerial observation, 

"The town of Benny had been pretty well shot up by American 
artillery as the Germans had previously held this town and were 
forced to retreat. The town was located on the ridge of a hill on the 
rnain traveled road and furnished a good target for the German ar- 
tillery who continually shelled it night and day after the Americans 
moved in which resulted in their killing about eig5it to ten Yanks 
a day. 

"No unusual activity occurred at this new position until Sep- 
tember 15 when the second battalion was called upon to form a 
patrol for the purpose of taking a small town which was strongly 
fortified with machine guns located about four kilometers in ad- 
vance of our position. The patrol moved forward in combat groups 
that night and when within a few hundred yards of the enemy we 
were commanded to continue the advance on our hands and knees. 
However, we were soon detected, due to the numerous flares sent up 
by the Huns, who immediately opened fire upon us with their ma- 
chine guns and to our surprise we found that we had been directed 
into a position that was subject to a three way machine gun fire 
from the enemy. When we began to get our bearings we found 
that we were in what might be termed a horseshoe trap. Having no 
artillrey support and not even having one-pounders with us we de- 
cided that a rifle grenade barrage would not be sufficient to cope 
with the situation and prepare our way for a charge, therefore after 
lying for several hours under continual machine gun fire we were 
forced to withdraw at dawn. After taking cover in timber a short 
distance in the rear for a few hours we marched back to our old 
position in single file with an interval of about fifty feet between 
men, under heavy shell fire. The next night there was a call for 
volunteers to try and take the same position. A large number re- 
sponded and the advance was made under practically the same diffi- 
culties as the previous night, but they were again forced to withdraw 
and decided that it would be foolish to try and take this position 
without artillery preparation. 

"It was on the second advance that Lieutenant McDonnough 
was seriously wounded in the arm causing the company to lose one 
of its most capable officers. Lieutenant McDonnough had been with 
the company since it originated. He was absolutely fearless, a hard 
worker, and it was no uncommon sight to see the lieutenant after 
drill hours calling his men together and giving them special in- 
structions, for his one aim was to get the company up to the highest 
degree as a fighting unit. His special hobby was bayonet fighting 
and he was rated among the best as an instructor. He liked his men 
and it was a pleasure for the boys to soldier under him. 

"The third night, after a light artillery preparation, the posi- 
tion was taken successfully and another prize added to the boys' 
record of twenty-six machine guns and approximately seven hundred 
prisoners. The next few days were spent in a support position near 

Page 61 




Private 

Florenciz O. Telles 

Box 1215 

Clifton, Ariz. 



Private First Class 

Patrico Soliz 

Sardis, La. 



Private 
Joe Polleto 

Box 88 
Morince, Ariz. 



Private 

Vincenzo Cortici 

1109 South 13th St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Carmelo Consenting 
404 William St. 
Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Joseph Firicario 

807 Pierce St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Page 62 



Benny with nothing unusual happening except that we were con- 
tinually under shell fire. 

"On September 21 we again shifted our position to Vallon 
woods, near Boullionville, where better shelter was provided by old 
German dugouts and temporary shelters were constructed by the 
men outi of sheet metal and logs. These old dugouts had been the 
home of the German forces up until the day of the drive and their 
hasty retreat caused them to leave them in very good condition. In 
front of some of these dugouts were little arbors and tables and 
seats, where the Germans had probably enjoyed many a good stein 
and joke at the expense of the Frenchmen. 

"While in this position the battalion commander informed the 
company that they would have to turn out for battalion parade and 
with the German airplanes continually flying over our heads the 
parade was not as successful as during normal times. 

"On September 26-27 we received our first replacement of cas- 
uals consisting of forty men to partially replace the company's 
losses. These men had just arrived in France and were immediately 
assigned to our company. They came mostly from Southern states, 
and had been rushed across without any training to speak of. We 
all looked them over and decided they were a pretty good bunch of 
fellows. They were distributed evenly among the different platoons 
and took up their duties with the companv just like old timers. You 
see we considered ourselves old heads at the game by this time. 

"On September 30 our company commander. First Lieutenant 
Fred L, Morrison, was taken to the hospital on account of stomach 
trouble, with which he had been suffering continually through the 
St. Mihel drive. He would not consent to go to the hospital until 
the drive was over. Here E Company dropped from its rolls an 
officer who had the entire confidence of the company. Everybody 
went to Dadv Morrison with his little woes because they always felt 
at home to talk with the lieutenant and you were always sure of get- 
ting a square deal. He never held himself aloft from his men. but 
was always one of the bovs. First Lieutenant Arthur A. Maclear 
was assigned to command the company relieving Lieutenant Morri- 
son. 

"The company again moved forward on October 1 and took up 
a support position between Boulionville and the front line. Here 
under adverse conditions we were called upon to dig trenches both 
dav and night for no other purpose but to keep the men busy. This 
position being directly under German aerial observation, we were 
continually shelled, night and day. After five days spent in this posi- 
tion the company was moved to Boulionville and billeted in build- 
ings in this town. Here we received a large delivery of mail and our 
duties being light, with enough to eat for the first time during the 
drive, we began to feel more like ourselves than we had for many 
vdays. On October 8 we were relieved by the Thirty-seventh Division 
on this whole sector, and we marched back to Rehanne woods where 
we spent one day. On October 9 First Luietenant Cass Harrington 
was assigned to command the company, relieving Lieutenant Mac- 
Page 63 




Private 

Albert M. Parker 

R. F. D. No. 1 

Ozark, Ark. 



Private 
Anton Basra 
Tabor, S. D. 



Private 

Joseph B. Cadwallader 

Winside, Neb. 



Private 
Jose Otero 
Clifton, Ariz. 



Private 

Herman H. Mohlenbrink 

Breckinridge, Okla. 



Private 
Joseph Svab 
Dubois, Neb. 



Page 64 



Lear, who was taken to the hospital. On this same date we were 
loaded in Chink trucks and after riding all that day and night and 
the next day until noon we arrived at Recicourt which was'^on the 
Verdun front. It was certainly a great relief to unload because we 
were packed ni these trucks so tight that we could hardly stretch our 
legs, let alone try to get any sleep. 

"At Recicourt we established a camp on a side hill just on the 
outskirts of town and at night those who had shelterhalves pitched 
tents, but the majority of the men had to assimulate their tents. 
There was an attempt here to do close order drill under the trees, 
but the results were not overly successful because the noise of the 
German airplanes over our head attracted more attention than the 
commands given to execute the manual of arms. 

"By this time everybody had received their full quota of cooties 
and if you didn't get any mail you could read your undershirt. It 
was not an uncommon sight to see the boys taking an inventory to 
see how many more had been born each day. 'Everybody was 
doing it.' 

"On October 13 we proceeded through the mud to a position 
near Epionville where we again dug in. Just to the left of our posi- 
tions there was a battery of huge French guns which were continually 
in operation and this caused our position to be continually shelled 
as the Germans were trying to silence these guns. Here we made 
preparation for the next drive, stocking up on ammunition and fill- 
ing any shortage necessary to strengthen our forces. 

"On October 19 we again moved forward to relieve the Thirty- 
second Division, which was holding a position in Bantheville woods. 
During this entire movement it rained continually. Here we reor- 
ganized our forces for the purpose of wiping out a German strong 
point which heretofore had checked the advance of the previous 
drives. 

"Of course it must always be kept in mind that all of the resi- 
ments of infantry in the Eighty-ninth Division were likewise partici- 
pating in these movements. 

"On the night of the 19th while making this relief Private Ira 
S. Penninger was killed from the explosion of a hand grenade. He 
was known personally by nearly every man in the company as he 
handled most of the barber work for the boys and after drill hours 
when everybody waa resting this lad was never too tired to do you 
a favor. He was a good soldier and a credit to the company, 

"The next day was spent in trying to procure a little rest, which 
was next to impossible as we had no shelter and our clothing was 
soaked with rain. Under these conditions we managed to pass the 
time until midnight October 20-21 when we were ordered to take 
our next objective which was on the northern edge of Bantheville 
woods. Fritzie's intelligence department was surely wise to this 
movement as we not only met their artillery barrage, but faced the 
fierceset machine gun resistance ever encountered by any unit of the 
Eighty-ninth Division. By morning both Lieutenant Harrington and 
Lieutenant Sam Smith were wounded and taken to the rear leaving 
Page 65 




Private 

A. B. Wallace 

Somewhere in Scotland 



Private 

Emmett Lawlek 

3119 T Street, South Side 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Clifford B. Reynolds 

Corning, Mo. 



Private 
John A. Izakson 
Lake Andes, S. D. 



Private 

William T. Naughton 

1617 Cass St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private First Class 

Wright Cochran 

1021 South 36th St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Page 66 




Dead Germans Who Were Plentiful in this Drive 



Second Lieutenant John Gaskill in command. Even though we had 
suffered heavy losses and were tired, wet and hungry when the news 
went round that Lieutenant Gaskill was in command the company 
seemed to take on new life because the boys all knew him and had 
confidence in his ability to lead them. 

"Of course this operation was purely a second battalion move- 
ment which was under the command of Captain Fisher, who was 
acting major. Everyone will remember Captain Fisher, who could 
always be found in the thickest of the engagement until the objective 
was taken. Although he was wounded badly in the hand in the early 
part of this engagement he laughed at the idea of going to the rear 
and stuck with the boys until the battle was over, which was about 
3 o'clock in the afternoon. Many times during this struggle as we 
would clean out a German machine gun nest the boys will always 
remember the shrill cry of the Huns, 'kamerad.' Fritz would cry 
like a baby when he was captured. 

"It was during this engagement that First Lieutenant Glenn K. 
Spencer was killed. He had been transferred from duty with E 
Company August 26 as adjutant of the Second Battalion, and while 
acting in this capacity he was struck by a large fragment of a shell, 
causing instant death. The lieutenant was a very capable officer and 
had many friends in E Company. 

"Here we reorganized the company and found that we had suf- 
fered in killed and wounded approximately forty men, including a 
large number of non-commissioned officers. This reduced our forces 
to about 130 men. Here we established the front line with our com- 
pany in the front wave, which we held until early the next morn- 
ing when we were relieved by a machine gun battalion of the Eighty- 
ninth Division. We marched back to Bois de Gaines for a rest which 
proved one of the hardest marches the company had endured, with 
the men weak from hunger and suffering from thirst. 

"I remember times on this march when the boys would disre- 
gard danger to drink water out of shell holes which were so apt to 

Page 67 




Private 

Emil Singer 

1016 Pacific St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Andrew Bos 

Castlewood, S. D. 



Private 

Philip Morris 

1232 East 22d Ave. 

Denver, Colo. 



Private 

Carl A. W. Madsen 

Wayne, Neb. 



Private 

AdOLPHUS J. MiLETTE 

922 West Market St. 
Aberdeen, Wash. 



Private 

Fred W. Johnson 

Bryant, S. D. 



Page 68 




Bringing Home the Bacon, or in Other Words, Bringing 
in Boclie Prisoners 



be poisoned by gas. It was also during this march that we received 
the first package of cookies gratis from the Y. M. C. A. 
We established ourselves in this position by digging in and provid- 
ing our own shelter and making ourselves as comfortable as condi- 
tions would permit. Our kitchen soon located near us and we again 
had something warm to eat. It must always be borne in mind that 
during a drive of this kind it is impossible for the kitchens to keep 
up with the men, especially in wooded territory. 

"A few days later a memorandum issued from the corps and 
division commanders was read to us giving praise to the way we 
had cleared Bantheville woods of the enemy. 

"On October 25 First Lieutenant Garfield G. Tunnel was at- 
tached to command the company and Second Lieutenant Fred A. 
Correll was attached for duty. The time was spent in map and com- 
pass reading and it was here that the non-commissioned officers first 
received information as to our future movements. It was not an un- 
common thing for a Boche airplane to fly over our position and drop 
sheets of propaganda printed in English. 

"During all this time the artillery was moving up night and 
day and preparing to deal the final crushing blow to the Huns. On 
November 1st we moved forward again and stopped in Bantheville 
woods. The next day we continued our advance as the front line 
moved forward. On November 3 we took up a support position 
near Tailly where we dug in in three different positions in twenty- 
four hours. On the morning of November 5 we advanced through 
heavy artillery fire to a position near Beauclair where we were held 
up for a few hours due to a terrible bombardment from the Ger- 
man artillery and machine gun fire from their airplanes. In the 
afternoon we again pushed forward to find the bridges blown out, 
compelling us to wade the river, reaching the Bois Dreulet that eve- 
ning. 

"Here we expected to meet stubborn resistance, but we found 

Page 69 




/^ ^^1 \ 




Private 

William P. Lewis 

Valley, Neb. 



Private 

Nathan Kramer 

4408 South 25th St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Sam Peltz 

300.5 Haskell St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Joseph Podrowzek 

1511 South 3d St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Cliff Myre 

Hickman, Ky. 



Private 

Mike Gridowski 

3213 South 29th St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



fage 70 



IRlM 'fo'i'nnilllllllll l llllll llllll n i l niiii mi] mn 




Shell Exploding in What WAS the Argonne Forest 



that the enemy had retreated, leaving the roads blocked with large 
trees which had been sawed so as to fall across the road for the pur- 
pose of retarding our advance. We advanced into the woods where 
we dug in for the night. Our progress through these woods was 
very slow owing to the density of the underbrush and the difficulty of 
trying to establish liaison between the different combat groops. We 
again moved forward the next morning and made our next stop near 
Laneuville, where we stayed two days. 

"During this time we kept continually sending out patrols and 
also sending details to the rear in an effort to secure reserve rations 
as our food supply was entirely exhausted and our kitchen had not 
as yet been located. On November 8 we shifted to the left entering 
the Forret de Jaulnay where the company formed the first wave. We 
had been continually losing men during this entire movement which 
left our company weakened and considerably below war strength. 
During this entire advance Lieutenant Tunnel was continually in 
command and by this time had proved to the company his ability 
as a leader and director of men. 

"He possessed special ability along the line of maps and com- 
pass reading and by this knowledge saved the boys many steps in 
moving from one position to another. We moved forward to the 
edge of the woods and located on a side hill a few hundred yards 
from the Meuse river. The little town of Inor was located just 
across the rivor from us. Here we established the front line and 
built ourselves our little homes by digging a hole in the ground and 
covering it with heavy logs and dirt. 

"The Germans were sure aware of our movements in this sector 
and kept continually sending over a heavy bombardment of 'Whiz 
Bangs' and high explosive which netted them more American casual- 
ties. Our first movement after establishing our front line was to 
send out a patrol for the purpose of patrolling the Meuse river and 
to obtain information regarding the enemy if possible. Our next 

Page 71 




Private 

Morgan Weeks 

Durant. Miss. 



Private First Class 

Gather Carpenter 

Diller, Neb. 



Private 

Alfred Peterson 

4526 North 14th St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Juan R. Sanchez 

Metcalf, Ariz. 



Private 
George Lammers 
Hartington, Neb. 



Private 

LucASZ Sarnowski 

28th and J Sts., South Side 



Gmaha, Neb. 



Page 72 




Dead Germans Readv to he Buried 



movement was to establish our outposts. One was located between 
the river and our front line and the other was located just a few 
hundred feet from the river. 

"An order came from higher command to furnish a patrol of 
twenty men and one officer from our company to cross the Meuse 
river, penetrate the enemy's lines, and bring back prisoners. Now 
in the first place the Meuse river is a deep river with a swift current, 
all the bridges in the whole sector had been blown out, we had no 
boats, so there was only one way to cross the river and that was to 
swim it, and remember that this was the month of November and 
the water* at that time of the year is cold. In addition to this, let 
me say, had our patrol succeeded in crossing the river there was an- 
other obstacle to overcome nearly as difficult as there was a canal 
between the river and the enemy. 

"Lieutenant Correll who was in command of this patrol exerted 
everv means possible in an endeavor to find some means of crossing 
the river, even going so far as to carrying old planks and logs to the 
remaining pillars of the blown up bridge which crossed the river at 
Inor. Finding this plan to be unsuccessful the lieutenant and his 
men decided that swimming the river would be a needless sacrifice 
of men so the patrol returned to camp. The remainder of the com- 
pany was greatly surprised to see the boys, because they never really 
expected to see them again had they carried out this order. 

"Then came the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the year 
1918, a day that will never be forgotten by the entire world. 

"Shortly before eleven o'clock some of the boys on the outposts 
reported that they thought that some other American unit had 
crossed the river and taken the town of Inor because they could 
hear singing and yelling and bugles were blowing all along the 
German lines, not once suspecting that this came from the Germans 
who were celebrating. Just before their report reached the company 

Page 73 




Private 

Peter Anton 

704 West 11th St. 

Kansas City, Mo. 



Private 

Edward Low 

313 North 21st St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Martin Lundin 

3028 Cass St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Gus Carlson 

3045 Stone Ave. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

John Goodenow 

4322 North 33d St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private First Class 

Jacob Martig 

3116 North 57th St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Page 74 




'Hie Kesults of an American Hanage in Wooded lenitories 



commander he had received an order from higher command that 
no shots were to be fired after eleven o'clock. Evidently the Huns 
must have received the same order as they made a vigorous effort 
to empty all their guns at the Americans before the specified mo- 
ment; they wanted to get in the last shot. 

"When Lieutenant Tunnel 1 called us together and read us the 
news, "Oh, Boy! what a feeling. At eleven o'clock all bombard- 
ment ceased and the sudden silence shattered the nerves of the men 
more than the bombardment. Everybody stood around shivering with 
the cold until some farsighted genius suggested that we build a bon- 
fire and get warm. This was certainly a case of follow the leader 
because in a few minutes you would have thought that there was a 
forest fire. You see previous to the armistice we had no fires and 
could not even as much as light a match for the fear of drawing 
enemy shell fire. 

"The boys had been soaked through with the rain and had no 
chance up to this time to dry their clothes. As the boys sat around 
the fire taking off their shoes to dry them and pulling off their shirts 
to look for cooties you could hear the fellows singing that familiar 
strain, 'They Go Wild, Simply Wild Over Me.' As the flames of the 
camp fires leaped higher, everyone seemed to pitch his conversation 
just a trifle higher and the boys next thought turned to betting on 
how soon we would start for home. Everyone was talking at once 
and speculating was common. 

"After drying our clothes and getting warm, our next thought 
was to further the festivities by having a banquet, but we had no 
place we could go for the fatted calf so we contented ourselves by 
cooking coffee over the bonfires in our cups and eating what 'Bullie 
Beef and hard tack we had on hand. 

"The nervous tension was too high for any of the boys to sleep 
that night and the conversation dragged on until the break of day. 
This sure was a day and night of rejoicing. 

"On November 13 we moved to Carre farm which was a short 
distance away. Here we were billeted in a large barn which had 

Page 75 




Private 

Ben Kritchevski 

1402 8th Ave North 

Minneapolis, Minn. 



Private First Class 
David W. Drapeau 
Lake Andes, S. D. 



Private 

Elias Sandell 

Address Unknown 



Private First Class 

Thomas A. Lorenzen 

7924 North 30th St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private First Class 

Clifton J. Ferrin 

Clearwater, Neb. 



Private First Class 
George Vetter 

11103 Liberty Ave. 
Richmond Hill 
Brooklyn, N. Y. 



^# 



Page 76 



previously been an old dairy. The morning was spent in picking 
up equipment in the woods. In the afternoon the company was de- 
tailed to help the engineers clean mud off the roads so that it would 
be possible for trucks to bring up supplies. On the morning of the 
14th we assembled all of our equipment and marched back to Barri- 
court which town was badly shot up and practically deserted. Here 
we were billeted in the buildings that remained standing. The town 
was in a very dirty condition and we had to 'police' it before it 
was fit to live in. 

"We received a very good slock of supplies here and a liberal 
supply of tobacco. Up to this time tobacco was so scarce that the 
boys were offering as high as twenty francs for a sack. The next 
few days were spent in sending out salvaging details to burv dead 
horses and to pick up equipment over the battle scarred country. 

"A drill schedule then reached us from regimental headquar- 
ters and of course the company had to turn out for drill. This sure 
was tough because the boys were sick and tired and in very poor 
condition to drill. They needed to be fed up a bit before thev could 
put very much snap in the drill. At this town we were given our 
first opportunity to purchase cookies, gum and candy from the Y. M. 
C. A. Believe me, these sure went good. 

"Of course now our fighting career was ended and to the Ameri- 
can soldier no better words could express what we had helped to 
accomplish than the words of General Pershing in a general order 
which read in part: 

" 'Your achievement, which is rarely to be equalled in Ameri- 
can history, must remain a source of proud satisfaction to the troops 
who participated in the last campaign of the war. The American 
people will remember it as the realization of the hitherto potential 
strength of the American contribution towards the cause to which 
they had sworn allegiance. There can be no greater reward for a 
soldier or a soldier's memory.' 

"We had been in this town but a short time when Lieutenants 
Gaskill and Correll were transferred up to the Second division for 
duty. It was hard to part with Lieutenant Gaskill because he had 
been with the boys all through the big show and believe me. it was 
notl easy for the lieutenant when he had to bid the old gang good- 
bye. Although Lieutenant Correll had only been with us a short 
time he had proven himself to be a man of great courage and a 
man who would not ask his men to go a place that he would not 
gladly go himself. Both of the lieutenants had made good with the 
boys. 

"About this time there was a good many wild-cat rumors about 
the Eighty-ninth Division being one of the first ones to be sent 
back to the Lhiited States and the morale of the company had gone 
up about 300 per cent in anticipation of going home. Also the 
Eighty-ninth Division being rated as one of the best combat divisions, 
we were called upon to furnish a part of the army of occupation, 
and on the morning of November 24 we began our triumphal march 
into Germany. 

Page 77 




Corporal 

Eugene Doole 

Star Route 

Fowler. Colo. 



Private 

James Kelley 

2777 Webster St. 

Omaha, Neb. 



Private 

Samuel Cabera 

517 Canulos St. 

Los Angeles, Cal. 



Private 
Sherman Allen 
Lexington, Neb. 



Page 78 



IIIIIIIIIIIIIIDIIIIIIIIIIIIIII" iiiiiiiimnn 



"On the evening of the first day found us at Stenay, France, 
where we were billeted for the night. Here we saw a large num- 
ber of French prisoners which had been released and were home- 
ward bound. They certainly cheered the Yanks. Next morning we 
were called at 4 o'clock to again take up the march at 7 o'clock. It 
had rained practically all night long and was still raining and we 
marched over a muddy road and through the rain all that day. Eve- 
ning found us at the small village of Sapogone, France, twenty-five 
kilometers from Stenay. Here we again billeted until November 
30. The time was spent in 'policing up' and performmg the usual 
drill duties. 

"All of the boys will remember the Thanksgiving day spent at 
this town. We certainly had a good deal to be thankful for, we 
were alive, and the armistice was signed. The chaplain delivered a 
sermon to the boys which was no doubt the most appreciated ser- 
mon that they had ever attended on Thanksgiving day. 

"Our menu for dinner certainly was a real contrast to mother's 
roast turkey. We had the usual army travel rations, of hard tack, 
canned tomatoes, corn beef and beans. Some of the more forunate 
lads were able to purchase Belgian hares and a few chickens from 
the French civilians. The priest invited all the soldiers into the 
church and spoke to them in French which was interpreted to us 
through our chaplain who understood and spoke French very well. 
He told how this town of Sapogne was one of the first towns to be 
invaded by the Huns and how, for four years they had been slaves 
of the Germans, subjected to all kinds of outrages against the women 
and children. 

"The tears ran down the old priest's face as he said that words 
could not express his gratitude to the American soldiers for their 
deliverance, but he hoped that the blessings of God would rest upon 
the entire American army forever. These poor French peasants 
knowing that this was an American holiday exerted every possible 
effort to entertain the Yanks by offering them what little they had 
and opening their homes to the boys. I might say here that when 
a Frenchman invites you to sit by his fireside in his own home he has 
paid you the highest compliment that he can. This is a custom of 
their country. 

"On November 30 we again took up the march and journeyed 
across southern Belgium arriving at Dampicourt, Belgium, where we 
were billeted in a large school house for the night. 

"After we were nicely settled for the night a bugler let out a 
blast and sounded the 'Call to Arms,' which necessitated all of the 
boys jumping out from under the blankets and falling out under 
arms. This was practiced occasionally to prevent surprise attacks 
on the troops. The Yanks were taking no chances about the Ger- 
mans being through fighting. 

"Early on the morning of December 1, we again took up the 
march and by evening we had very nearly crossed the country of Bel- 
gium and put up at the little town of Messancy, Belgium, for the 
night. The next morning we arose at the usual time and journeyed 

Page 79 



on to Bertrange, Luxenberg. The Luxenbergers had a big sign up 
welcoming the American soldiers. 

"During our entire journey through Belgium and Luxenberg 
we would have the good housewives cook us good things to eat. The 
meals cost plenty of 'Jack' but we were fast getting tired of the 
army rations and we wanted something good to eat, and believe 
me those old ladies know how to cook. 

"By this time the boys were getting pretty tired of marching 
and the old pack kept getting a little heavier each day. The thing 
that every soldier despised was marching at attention through towns. 
When you ma^ch all day long with a heavy pack on your back and 
then when you have to march at attention through towns, believe me 
it pretty nearly brings mutiny. 

"We marched on to Ernster, Luxemberg, the next day stopping for 
the night. On December 4 we again resumed the march and that 
night found us at Consdorf, Luxemberg. Here we were allowed to 
rest a day which certainly was appreciated by the boys. We fell 
in again on December 6 and about noon we marched across the 
border and into Germany. The Three Hundred and Fifty-fifth in- 
fantry band struck up a lively tune, but the German civilians did not 
seem to appreciate the music. We marched across the hills of 
'Deutschland' all that afternoon and that night we billeted in Welch- 
bellig, Germany. The people did not seem overjoyed at seeing us, 
however we were treated far better than we expected to be and it 
wasn't very long before the boys had won over the little children 
to their side. 

"On December 7 we continued into Germany to the little town 
of Spange. We rested here for a day and resumed our march on 
the morning of December 9. This was only a short hike, however, 
and we arrived at Spiecer, Germany, about noon. 

"This practically ended the long march of nearly 200 kilo- 
meters accomplished in about ten days' marching. We averaged 
about 3I/2 kilometers an hour during our entire march. The scenery 
along this entire journey was really wonderful and I suppose that if 
a fellow had been traveling in a car he would have enjoyed the 
beauty of those hills, but when you journey about twenty miles a 
day on the hobnail express, up hill and down hill, with a heavy pack 
on your back a rifle, a hundred and ten rounds of ammunition, an 
automatic pi. 1, to say nothing of the boys who were carrying auto- 
matic rifles and ammunition, believe me the only time that we 
marveled at nature's handiwork was when we fell out along the road- 
side to rest for ten minutes at the end of each hour's marching. 

"The American officers '^igher up issued an order here that all 
the boys were to sleep in be( id not more than one to a bed. 
This was the best piece of news we had heard since the signing of 
the armistice. This order was very c. -fully carried out much to 
the discomfort and expense of the Germans. '^'-' ^ a pretty lit- 

tle German village and there were some pre' Ties in this 

town and of course these were readily utili' anks com- 

fort. 

Page 80 




Saarhiu";, Germanv. Showintj the Famous OKI Castle Ahnve it 



"The duties of the company during their stay at this town was 
guarding railroad bridges and tunnels, with the second platoon sta- 
tioned at Philippsheim carrying out the same duties. Here the boys 
considered themselves almost on a vacation when they were doing 
guard duty as it was such a contrast from what they had been doing 
and it gave them a good rest. The 'chow' was also pretty good be- 
cause we had received some fresh beef and a good supply of other 
rations. 

"We were relieved from guard duty on December 18 and on 
December 20 we were loaded into trucks and hauled to Saarburg, 
Germany. We were billeted just across the river from Saarburg in 
the little town of Beurig. Here we again established ourselves in 
the German homes enjoying their big feather beds a ' est we knew 
how. 

"Christmas rolled around while we were in this town. The win- 
dows of the stores were decorated with toys and the Christmas spirit 
prevailed everywhere. The churches all held services which were at- 
tended by many of the boys wh'-> \, :e always welcome in the 
churches. 

"The Y. M. C. A. at Saarburg had a Christmas tree for all of 
the boys billete'^' in the t^ -ns of Saarburg and Beurig. Each sol- 



dier was giv 
a package 
received th 
us until in 

Page 81 



jX containing a bar of chocolate, two cookies, 
and a cigar. A few of the lucky boys had 
from home, but most of these did not reach 
February. 






lii» ^ •" 




Co. E's Mess Line — Taken While Stationed in Germany 



"The mess sergeant and the cooks prepared a pretty fine Christ- 
mas dinner which consisted of roast pork, mashed potatoes, dressing, 
gravy, bread, coffee and apple cobbler. Here is where we have to 
give the mess sergeant and the cooks a vote of thanks. After din- 
ner a few extemporaneous speeches were made on the depot plat- 
form by a very popular sergeant from O'Neill, Nebraska, and a 
bugler from Omaha, Nebraska, and after listening for some little 
time to these speeches the boys pronounced them a success and 
pledged themselves to vote for both at the next election. 

"Half holidays were observed between Christmas and New 
Years. On January 3 we had a surprise inspection by Major General 
Winn. The weather was unusually disagreeable, but this did not 
excuse us from standing this inspection. Our orders were to fall out 
with full field equipment plus all the surplus shoes and blankets 
that we possessed. We marched through the mud to the drill grounds 
and a certain squad was picked out from each company to spread 
out their equipment for inspection. Considerable stress was laid 
upon the shoe strings and shoe dubbin. Luckily for Company E 
this squad had all their equipment in good shape and in a few hours 
the company was breathing easy again. 

"About this time considerable sickness broke out in \he com- 
pany and a good many of the boys were unable to attend drill on 
account of slight touches of influenza and in a good many instances 
it became more serious and they were sent to the hospital at Trier, 
Germany. 

"On December 16 Captain Charles A. Wright was assigned to 

Page 82 



command the company, but did not arrive until about a week later. 
On December 28 he was relieved of command and sent to an army 
school, leaving Lieutenant Tunnel again in command. On January 
14 Lieutenant Tunnel was relieved from command and assigned to 
special duty as town major of Buerig and First Lieutenant Charles 
K. Bowser was assigned to the company. Lieutenant Bowser was not 
a stranger to E Company, as he was with F Company during all the 
drives and the two companies generally worked together. Lieutenant 
Bowser was taken sick and First Lieutenant Edwin A. Irwin was at- 
tached to command the company. On January 18 Captain John C. 
Moore was assigned to command the company, relieving Lieutenant 
Irwin. Captain Moore remained in command until February 4 when 
Captain Charles Wright returned from army school and was assigned 
to command, remaining in command until we were finally mustered 
out. 

"On January 12 we received our first pay in German money, 
being paid in German currency, ranging in value from one mark 
to one hundred marks. From January 20 to 23 we had preliminary 
training for range firing and from January 24 to January 30 we 
spent on the rifle range near Beurig, where everyone had a chance to 
practice shooting. 

"Second Lieutenant James L. Webster was assigned to the com- 
pany for duty on February 8 and First Lieutenant Arthur McKnight 
was assigned on Ferbuary 1... The boys looked these two young men 
over and decided that they were a couple of pretty good fellows 
and they got along with the boys splendidly. 

"During the month of February we could always count on rice 
without sugar or milk, and bread and svrup for breakfast. We al- 
ways had rice and syrup. For dinner we generally had a stew 
of some kind and baked or boiled potatoes. For supper we would 
probably get canned tomatoes, macroni, pickles, bread and coffee, 
and occasionally bread pudding. The meals while nothing to speak 
of, were a thousand times better than we received during our fighting 
days. This was due, of course, to failure in getting supplies to the 
cooks. We generally managed, by spending considerable money 
with the Y. M. C. A. for jam, cookies, and canned fruit, to make out 
a prettv good meal. 

"We had quite a few social gatherings during the evenings at 
the different cafes. Of course the landlords were always glad to 
welcome the boys because they always spend considerable money. 
We were not permitted to purchase anything but light wines and 
beers, however the girl bartenders were generally very busy. These 
'Gasthaus' were about the only place one could go in the evenings 
and they closed up at nine o'clock. Occasionally the Y. M. C. A. 
would have a moving picture show and the company would have 
to line up and march over to Saarburg if they wanted to see the 
show. 

"It must be borne in mind that the American soldiers were not 
allowed to fraternize with the German people and there was no 
dancing or anv of this kind of enjoyment, neither were we per- 

Page 83 



mitted to purchase anything to eat from the Germans. There was an 
army order posted everywhere forbidding the purchase of fats, meat, 
cereals and bread. 

"During the month of February we did the usual guard duty, 
made long practice marches, followed out the regular drill ^schedule, 
certain details worked on the roads, and we had our regular Satur- 
day morning field inspection. Sickness had begun to ease up con- 
siderably in the company and the boys were beginning to take on a 
little weight and were beginning to look much better. The Y. M. 
C. A. began to furnish a little more entertainment and things moved 
along smoothly. 

"On February 25 we received our third issue of candy from the 
government since our arrival overseas, the first being at Brechain- 
ville, France, and the second at Barricourt, France. We consid- 
ered this quite a treat and while it was the sugar variety of candy 
we thought it tasted fine. 

"At this time leaves were being granted to the men to go to 
Coblenz, Germany, for a three-day stay, which included a trip up 
the Rhine river, and there was also leaves granted to southern France 
for seven days. Coblenz, Germany, as you probably know, was 
the headquarters of the American army of occupation. It was a 
beautiful German city and had many places of interest to visit. 

"A little later on passes were granted for a three days' stay in 
Paris. I suppose Peggy is dying to hear about Paris. Well, for 
Peggy's benefit I will tell you briefly about Paris. Paris is a beau- 
tiful city to begin with, but during my stay in Paris I don't be- 
lieve I saw a business block that looked modern to me. Their statues, 
churches, art gallerys, drives and bridges are simply wonderful. 
The gardens where the queens used to have their tea parties were the 
most beautiful spots I had ever seen. 

"The party that I was with visited the Notre Dame church and 
to the rear of this church was a pedestal upon which were the flags of 
the allied nations and our guide told us that this was the first time 
in the history of France that any flag had been allowed in this 
church except the French flag. We visited the tomb of Napoleon 
and then drove down to see that famous painting, 'Le Patheon De La 
Guerre.' This is the most wonderful picture in the world. If my 
memory serves me rightly it is forty-five feet high and three hun- 
dred feet long and features 6,000 of the allied war heores. The 
artists have so vividly painted these heroes that anyone familiar with 
them can immediately recognize the war heroes. 

"Each allied nation has its certain space on the picture. The 
United States is featured with the bust statue of George Washington 
placed upon a stone monument with the Stars and Stripes draped 
behind it and around the monument are grouped President Wilson, 
William Howard Taft. Colonel House, Theodore Roosevelt, the West 
Point cadet, the cowboy. General Pershing and other prominent 
characters. 

"We visited the shopping district and saw much of the finery 
that bedecks the gay little French madamoiselle. The French peo- 

Page 84 




Co. E on the Rifle Range at Beurig, Germany 

pie, both men and women, are great people to dress. The French 
girls are very pretty and dainty and they have a knack of 'vamping' 
the American Sammie. It was surprising the way they had mastered 
the American language. Most all that I had the pleasure of talking 
to spoke pretty good English. 

"These passes and trips were certainly enjoyed by the men and 
they were a big help in keeping the men contented and they also 
furnished a chance to get away from that everlasting drill and week- 
ly practice marches with full packs. As time went on more men 
were granted leaves, especially to southern France. 

"The ever constant subject during our period of occupation 
was, 'when do we go home,' and any rumor on this subject spread 
like wild fire through the company. This was somewhat subdued 
by official news of a sailing schedule announcing June as the month 
to go home, so we resigned ourselves and hoped thi;^ to be true. 

"About the middle of March the educational program of the 
A. E. F. was furnished us and a number of the company were sent 
to the various divisional schools. Here they could take up such sub- 
jects as automobile repairing, telegraphy, liberal arts, agriculture, 
etc. These schools were to extend for a period of three months, 
but in the event that the company departed for home these students 
were to have the privilege of rejoining their outfit and go home with 
them. The purpose of these schools were to get the boys back in 
shape to take up their same line of work when they returned to the 
states. 

"The boys were beginning to grow restless from day to day and 
formations grew tiresome, time began to drag on our hands, however 
things livened up for a few days as the fourth platoon found some 
old theatrical costumes up over Herr Youngblood's cafe and a com- 
pany was formed to stage 'Ten Nights in the Barroom.' The fourth 

Page 85 




The Big Stone Bridge Between Gravenmancker-Luxemburg and Wallen, 
Germany, Guarded by Co. E. 

show was a great success. Some of the more experienced actors 
stuck it out for eight clays and then the whole performance blew up 
with one big grand celebration and everybody slept the next day. 
It is probably best at this time to withhold the names of the stars in 
this drama. 

"The next thing of note was an announcement that we were 
again to shoot on the range. This was somewhat of a sporting event 
as we were to try to qualify as marksmen and sharpshooters. The 
weather was very bad and it rained most of the time and conditions 
were against the boys for running up any high scores, still a good 
many of the boys won marksmen badges. 

"After we had completed shooting on the range we received or- 
ders to move out to Wallen, Nittel and Warsuringer to guard two 
large stone bridges which crossed the Mosel river, the boundary 
line between Luxemberg and Germany. This was the softest snap 
that the boys had had since they were in the army. The boys 
crossed over to Luxemberg at every opportunity as we could buy 
ham, eggs, pie and cake from the Luxembergers, this being a neutral 
country. 

"Our post command was established at Nittel, Germany, and 
here Captain Wright was absolute monarch, supreme court, and 
everything else as far as the Germans were concerned. Every once 
in a while a German would try and get real bad and he would be 
brought up before Captain Wright for trial and before the cap- 
tain finished with him he made a pretty good citizen out of him. 

Page 86 




Captain Wright, Captain Fisher and Lieutenant Millekin 
(Bn. Ajt.) — Taken at a Field Inspection in Germany 



"On April 25 the company received an order that they were 
expected to be present at the Eighty-ninth Divisional Review, which 
was to be held on an aviation field just south of Trier, Germany, 
on April 30. All of the company except those that were necessary 
to maintain the guard were marched back to Saarburg under the 
command of Liei^tenant Charles K. Bowser, spending the night in 
Saarburg. The neKt morning the company fell out with the entire 
Three Hundred and Fifty-fifth regiment and marched out to the 
drill field near Saarburg to have a preliminary inspection and to 
practice passing in review. That afternoon was spent in washing 
up our equipment and getting ready for the big event, even going so 
far as to blacken the extra pair of shoes that we carried on our 
pack. Believe me you had to look like a brand new dime and every- 
thing had to shine or there was somebody right there to point out 
your defects. 

"The next morning the Three Hundred and Fifty-fifth infantry 
was again assembled and marched to Conz, Germany, where they 

Page 87 




Hog Call at Nittel, Germany — Taken on Main Street 



were billeted for the night. A few minutes before retreat that eve- 
ning, we received an order to stand retreat with light packs which 
necessitated us taking our packs all apart. With the boys tired 
from marching, this didn't make any big hit. Reveille sounded 
very early the next morning and after we had had our breakfast 
and again assembled our equipment we were marched to the parade 
grounds where we took up our position to be inspected before pass- 
ing in review. Nearly two hours was spent endeavoring to get a 
suitable position satisfactory to the brigade commander. We stood 
at attention with full packs most of the time until noon when we 
finally received the order to unsling equipment and eat our lunch 
which consisted of two thin slices of bread and a piece of cheese. 
Here the boys left their units in an attempt to find some of their 
comrades in other units whom they had not seen or visited with 
for a long time. At 12:45 we again fell in to await for General 
Pershing to inspect us. When the general was nearing our ranks 
the command 'open ranks' and 'about face' was given and we stood 
at attention while the general gave us the 'once over' as he walked 
through our ranks with his staff. 

"After the general completed the pinning of the crosses of gal- 
lantry on some of the men we proceeded to pass in review in front of 
General Pershing and Secretary Baker, at double time with bayonets 
fixed. After going about a half mile we were halted and reor- 
ganized into platoon fronts, ordered to unsling equipment, and 
marched back to a large German Zepplin shed where we listened to 
addresses from General Pershing and Secretary Baker. During the 

Page 88 




Three Luxemburg Girls and Lieutenant McKnight for a Boat Ride on tl 

Mosel River 



general's address he praised the gallantry shown by the men of the 
Eighty-ninth Division, also the wonderful record they had made 
for themselves during the few months that they were engaged in the 
fighting. 

"About 5 o'clock we again fell in, put on our equipment and 
started back, about half dead to Conz, where we again occupied 
billets for the night. The company was called at 4 o'clock the next 
morning and marched to a little town near Conz, where we boarded 
the train to return to our duties on guard. 

"We remained here just a few days when we were relieved by the 
Sixth Division and we again moved on into Beurig where we were 
billeted. 

"It was here that we received news officially that we were soon 
to start for home. Talk about a happy bunch of fellows, happy is 
no name for it. From this time on until we departed from Beurig 
the boys were having continual farewell parties, the Hotel Zur Post 
being the most popular hangout, while Herr Youngblood's cafe did 
a good business. 

"On the morning of May 9, those who had gone to bed were 
called at 4 o'clock to perform the numerous duties necessary, such as 
policing up the town and billets before bidding a last farewell to 
Beurig. 

"After a very careful inspection of the billets to see that there 
was nothing left behind that belonged to Uncle Sam we embussed 

Page 89 




A Common Sight on Any German Country Road 

for Trier, Germany, at 6 o'clock, arriving at Trier at 8:15 where 
we immediately entrained. We did not leave here however until 
12:52 p. m., which gave the boys ample time to lay in a good supply 
of canned fruit and candy which they were able to purchase at the 
commissary located near the train. 

"We were now on our way to Brest, France, riding in Ameri- 
can boxcars. The accommodations were practically the same as 
we were used to while traveling in Europe, about fortv men to a 
car with not enough room for all to comfortably lie down. 

"During our journey we received strict orders to keep the door 
which was next to the double track closed entirely, but were allowed 
to open the other door when the train stopped, however most of 
the boys cheated a little and had their doors open part way in or- 
der that they might view the scenery for the last time. The officers 
received their physical exercise running back and forth about the 
full length of the train to see that these doors were kept closed. 

"Captain Wright exerted every possible effort to buy cigars, 
fruit, candy, and anything that he thought would please ihe boys 
and help them to enjoy their trip. The company had a pretty good 
company fund saved up and the captain was of the opinion that the 
boys deserved some enjoyment and he was going to see that they 
got it. 

"During the daytime the lads killed time the best way they 
could. There was generally a box placed in the middle of each 
car with the old national game running at full blast, however some 
of the boys liked 'African golf better and you could hear 'seven 
come eleven." 



Page 90 



"We arrived at Brest, France, May 12 at 4 p. m., where we un- 
loaded all our equipment. We then fell in to have supper. Here 
we had the quickest meal we had ever had during our entire army 
experience. The mess hall was built on a large plan which afforded 
several mess lines to pass in at once. The tables were built about 
four feet high and every one stood up to eat. As one passed in 
the door your chow was served to you practically on the run. Effi 
ciency was sure the watchword here. They fed a whole trainload of 
men in about thirty minutes. 

"After chow the company fell in and marched to Camp Pontan- 
azen, arriving there about 7 p. m. It was about four miles up to 
this camp and it was a tough little hike because it was all up hill, 
the weather was warm and we were carrying all our equipment. 

"When we arrived at this camp we found it to be what appeared 
to us to be acres and acres of tents and it looked like the whole 
American forces were camped here. We were all assigned to tents, 
six men to a tent. The accommodations were favorable, each man 
having a cot with a mattress on and plenty of blankets were fur- 
nished to roll up in. We were fed on practically the same plan 
that we were at Brest and the chow was pretty fair. There were 
several army canteens at this camp where we could buy apples, 
oranges and cookies and we really fared pretty good here. 

"The next event was to change our French money back into good 
old American 'green backs.' I'll never forget how long these bills 
looked to me, they were so much longer than the paper franc notes 
that I thought the treasury had gotten out a new bill. This money 
made the boys homesick as it was such a contrast to the foreign 
money which resembled cigarette coupons rather than money. 

"We remained in this camp for three days and during this time 
we had a series of inspections resulting in one big final inspection. 
The preliminary inspections required each soldier to be absolutely 
free from cooties and in good physical condition. The big final in- 
spection was a scream. After taking considerable instruction in how 
to roll our packs a new way much different than heretofore, we 
finally mastered the art. We were then marched about two miles 
at not less than 130 pace gait until we reached a large building where 
they held these inspections. Our orders were, to march in, spread 
out our equipment for inspection, put our gloves on and hold our 
overcoat over our arm. After the inspecting officer looked us over 
to be sure that we were not short any shoe strings or dubbin, our 
orders were to have our packs rolled and be out of the building 
in five minutes. This was quick work and the perspiration was run- 
ning off of the boys before they finished. 

"One evening my attention was drawn to a large crowd gath- 
ered in front of the company P. C. and my first thought was that 
some excitement of some kind or other was going on, but when I 
reached there I was agreeably surprised to find that Lieutenant Fred 
L. Morrison, our commander during the St. Mihiel drive, was pay- 
ing the company a visit. I also noticed that he had a captain's bar 
on his shoulder and was wearing the Thirty-third Division insignia, 

Page 91 



which division was also camped here and waiting for a ship to take 
them home. The boys were glad to see him and everyone was 
pleased to be able to congratulate him upon his promotion. He was 
glad to see the boys as he had many warm friends in the company 
and was glad to find that most of them had come out of the Argonne 
woods alive. 

"About noon on May 15 we received orders to fall in with all 
our equipment, that we were going to march back to Brest and em- 
bark for home. Captain Wright made an inspection of the men 
to see if they had any French girls, dogs or any foreign property, 
in excess of one hundred dollar value, in their possession, as we 
were not allowed to take them aboard. The captain and the boys 
had many a good laugh over this inspection. 

"During our march to Brest nobody complained about going too 
fast and the hike did not seem long, we were going home and every- 
body was happy. 

"We embarked without delay on a small ferryboat and were 
taken out into deep water where the Leviathan was anchored. When 
we drew up alongside this ship it looked to us like a skyscraper 
built on the water. We were all pleased to learn that we were going 
home on the biggest transport afloat. The Leviathan was formerly 
the German 'Fatherland.' It measured nine hundred and fifty feet 
long and 100 feet wide and had a capacity of 58,000 tons. 

"The ship hoisted her anchor at 8 o'clock and we were now 
on our way to America. The ship was loaded with approximately 
12,000 officers and men and a crew of about 2,000. A part of the 
Thirty-third Division and some wounded men were also on this boat 
with the Eighty-ninth Division men. My company was assigned to 
the eighth deck. Our sleeping accommodations were little canvas 
cots, three high, strung on some galvanized piping uprights. 

"One of the most remarkable features of efficiency on this boat 
was the way they fed the men. Each section of the boat fell in and 
marched at a certain time to a big saloon where they could feed ap- 
proximately 4,000 men at one time. Everything moved like clock 
work and all of the men on this ship could be fed and out of the 
saloon in approximately two hours. 

"We were not assigned to any particular duties on this trip and 
had most of the time to ourselves and we generally went up on deck 
where we could enjoy ourselves. They issued the boys blue denims 
to pull on over their uniforms so you could sit up on deck and not 
spoil your uniform. This trip home was quite a contrast to the 
one going over. The bands played on the decks in the afternoons 
and there was always some excitement of some sort or other going 
on, such as boxing, wrestling or playing catch. During the evenings 
the ship was all illuminated with electricity, and they had moving 
pictures in the big dining room for all who cared to watch them. A 
good many ships passed us both going and coming from America. 
The boys had a big time watching for whales and seacows which 
were plentiful. The sea was fairly calm during our entire trip 

Page 92 



with the exception of one or two days when the old white caps piled 
up pretty high and the ship would rock considerably. 

"On May 23 we arrived just outside the harbor where we were 
compelled to remain until the unusually heavy fog lifted as it was 
dangerous for a boat of this size to enter the harbor during a fog. 

"When the fog lifted we could see the Statue of Liberty and 
believe me that old girl looked good to us as she stood out there 
welcoming us home. As we pulled up a little closer we were met 
by a number of ferryboats loaded with the different reception com- 
mittees from the various states representing the two divisions on 
board the Leviathan. Each ferryboat had a band playing, banners 
flying and big placards to identify what state and also what town 
in the state that they were from. These boats would circle around 
the Leviathan and the people aboard them would throw oranges and 
apples at the boys and kept their bands playing continually. You 
can't appreciate the thrill that came over the boys at being greeted 
in this manner. Boys who had held back all their lonesonie feel- 
ing, who had faced all the dangers of battle and never let their 
nerves get the best of them, gave vent to their feelings here in spite 
of themselves and one could gaze over the deck and see a tear now 
and then trickling down the cheeks of their comrades. 

"As I stood there watching this reception that little poem kept 
ringing in my ears: 

" 'Breathes there a man with soul so dead, 
Who never to himself has said, 
This is my own, my native land. 
Wlio's heart hath ne'er within him burned 
As home his footstep he returned 
From wandering o'er a foreign land.' 

"Here I was back again in my own grand and glorious countrv 
with the best people on earth to welcome us home. As I gazed 
down the harbor and watched the hustle and bustle of the little 
tugboats pulling great cargoes I was glad to be back once more in 
a country where the wheels go around and where men live to achieve 
something greater than military glory and world dominion. 

"We debarked in a short time and were marched over to an 
American Red Cross station where the ladies served us with coffee 
and buns. We had quite a bit of fun joking with the American 
girls. After stocking up well on coffee and buns we marched down 
to get on the ferryboat to cross over to Long Island. 

"On every stairway and in every nook and crook in the road 
there were Y. M. C. A. men, Jewish welfare workers. Knights of 
Columbus workers, and all organizations were breaking their necks 
to hand us gum, candy, cookies and everything to eat. This was 
such a change that it kind of dazed us, but we accepted everything 
that was offered to us and went on our way rejoicing. 

"After crossing over to Long Island we took the train for 
Camp LIpton reaching the camp about 2 a. m. the next morning. 

Page 93 



After marching around the camp a couple of times we were finally 
assigned to American barracks again. 

"Although we had no duties during the day to speak of, they 
managed to have us fall out at 3 a. m. one morning to be deloused. 
One had to take all his clothing and blankets over to the delousing 
plant to have them steamed, the ceremony also called for a hot bath, 
and those that were fortunate to be small in stature received a sec- 
ond pair of trousers. After our uniforms were thoroughly deloused 
they were handed back to us and they looked like they bad been 
pressed with a waffle iron. We were free from cooties, but all the 
shape to our uniforms was gone, and the boys had a new wrinkle 
in their clothing. 

"Governor McKelvie of Nebraska paid the boys a visit at this 
camp and delivered an address to the boys, a good many of whom 
knew the governor personally. 

"Camp Upton provided the boys with many means of entertain- 
ment such as shows, dancing, music and barber shops. Fhe boys 
would climb up into the barber chairs and of course the barber had 
been reading their mail and knew that they wanted a haircut, singe, 
shampoo, tonic and everything else. They sold the soldier every- 
thing but the shop and the only reason they didn't add that on the 
bill was for fear the government might not let them take the shop 
home with them, excess baggage. We were certainly pestered with 
the souvenier peddlers who offered for sale many novelties which 
were purchased without hesitancy by a majority of the boys. The 
American soldier was ever a target for the profiteer. 

'On the strength of a very agreeable order coming dovvn from 
headquarters that the boys would be permitted to have a 48-hour 
pass to visit New York City, the boys never doubted the mess hall 
rumors, lost no time in making preparations to make Broadway 
proud of them. This of course necessitated making many purchases, 
such as tan shoes to take the place of hobnails, sox and the neces- 
sary articles to complete the toilet. They were all fixed up like 
dudes and ready to go when we received word that all passes were 
cancelled. This sure was a disappointment but we were used to 
them by this time. 

"At this camp the company was separated as to states, and the 
boys were sent to the closest camp to their homes to be discharged. 

"On May 27 all the remaining members who were scheduled 
to be mustered out at Camp Funston were marched to the train 
under the command of Captain Wright, the only officer, where they 
were assigned sleepers headed for home. Our rations on this trip 
consisted of cornbeef and hardtack but thanks to the good ladies 
of the American Red Cross who furnished us coffee and buns, we 
fared well. At every stop the train was met by the American Red 
Cross ladies, who always had something good to eat for the boys. 
The American Red Cross was a wonderful organization and the 
courtesy and kindness shown the boys throughout the entire war by 
these ladies will always be remembered. 

"I would like also at this moment to say something about the 

Page 94 



Salvation Army workers which I think ranked next to the American 
Red Cross when it came to helping out the boys and meeting their 
immediate needs. These brave little girls served us pancakes and 
doughnuts several times in the shelled areas and braved a good 
many dangers to be of aid to the American soldiers. I say all hats 
off to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army and I think 
when I make this statement that I voice the sentiment of the entire 
company. They practiced what they preached, at least that was 
my experience. 

"We were advised previous to our departure from Camp Upton 
that we were to parade in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska. 

"When we reached Omaha on Decoration Day, although we 
were a little late in getting in, and it had rained during the morning, 
all Omaha was out to greet us as we marched up Farnam street and 
north on Twentieth to the High School grounds. Here a wonder- 
ful reception was given the boys and also a spread. As the boys 
marched up the street at attention all their friends endeavored to 
break into the ranks and shake hands with the boys. 

"After accepting Omaha's great hospitality and having a nice 
little visit with everyone, we were marched to the depot and took 
the train for Lincoln, Nebraska, where we were again greeted by 
a large crowd who gave us a very nice reception and a lawn supper. 
"We entrained here again about 10 o'clock for Camp Funston. 
When we reached Beatrice, Nebraska, we were again treated to ice 
cream, cigars and sandwiches. We stopped at nearly all the sta- 
tions between Lincoln and Camp Funston and a good many of the 
boys who resided in these towns had a chance to see their folks. 

"We finally pulled into Camp Funston about seven the next 
morning and were assigned to barracks, to await our discharges. 
The old camp looked the same as when we left it over a year ago, 
except that all of the boys were taking it easy instead of drilling. 
"We had an unusually large number of men to be discharged in 
our company which necessitated more paper work than most of the 
companies and this delayed us in getting our discharge papers made 
. out until June 3. 

"The morning of June 3 rolled around just the same as any 
other day and the sun came up in the east despite the fact that 
this day was to be a memorable one to us all. About 8 o'clock in 
the morning Captain Wright came over to the barracks and called 
the boys together and gave them a farewell talk and shook hands 
with each man individually before lining them up as to rank to 
march over to get their discharges and the $60 bonus. 

"It may seem funny to you when I say this, but it was really 
hard for the captain to say good-bye to the company because he was 
a great pal of the boys besides being their captain. 

"The boys marched past the desk and received their discharges, 
back pay, and $60 bonus and then hurried to the depot to line up 
for the last time in the army to secure transportation to 'Home, Sweet 
Home.' 

"After boarding the train and getting nicely seated it began 

Page 95 



to dawn on the boys that the time was close at hand when thev must 
all bid their buddies good-bye and take up their duties in the civilian 
world once more. It is pretty hard to bid an old comrade good-bye, 
who had been with you all through the fight, who had went fifty-fifty 
with you on everything he had even down to the last drop of water 
and piece of bread, who had cheered you up when the big shells 
were screaming over your heads and death seemed to stare you in 
the face, who had probably helped you carry part of your equip- 
ment because you might be a weaker man, who had shared his 
blanket with you when you would lie down to sleep at night 
drenched to the skin and who had talked with you about the folks 
at home and planned on the day when we would see them again. 
These were friends who were worth having and they were true blue. 
"I believe that after having seen what we have seen and after ex- 
periencing the things we have experienced, we are returning to our 
home country better Americans than ever before. I think that the 
associations we have formed, the friendships we have made in this 
last turbulent year and a half, will be of a lasting nature and will 
become of more value to each of us as the years pass. We who have 
suffered, succeeded, made and lost friends forever in the trial of war, 
will ever be subject to a common tie that will soon be as strong as 
life and friendship can make it." 



THE END. 



Page 96 



ACTION 

ONE YEAR OVERSEAS 

LucEY Sector 

Saint Mihiel Offensive 

EvERZiN Sector 

Meuse-Arconne Offensive 



Killed in Action or Died in Hospital 



First Lieut. Glenn K. Spencer 
Corporal John E. Gilmer 
Corporal Edward J. McCarthy 
Private Arthur Quinlan 
Private Harold B. Marshall 
Private Louis H. Mann 
1 rivate Ira C. Penninger 
Private Harold E. Wilson 
Private L. D. Cave 



Private Samuel Mislevic 
Private Augustine Urrea 
Private Emil Boudar 
Private Edward Sondker 
Private First Class Tom Agar 
Private First Class John Oliver 
Private First Class Allen Jones 
Private First Class John Cain 



Missing 

Private Ira McLendon 



Wounded in Action 

First Lieut. Gilbert L. McDonough Private 

First Lieut. Cass M. Herington Private 

First Lieut. Sam Smith Private 

Sergeant Clinton T. Hoagland Private 

Seigeant Byard A. Dodge Private 

Sergeant James Fisher Private 

Corporal William Ehrike Private 

Corporal John Kline Private 

Corporal Charles Bonth Private 

Private Gust Carlson Private 

Private Ricliard 0. Curtis Private 

Private Ralph H. Dennis Private 

Private Arthur Duszynski Private 

Private John Elder Private 

Private William Freshe Private 

Private Claude Key Private 

Private William Leeder Private 

Private Richard C. Lyons Private 

Private William H. Alarr Private 
Private Carl Aladsen 



John F. McCoy 
James E. Newton 
John E. Patton 
Emil L. Petersen 
Earl H. Petty 
Tony Ritzo 
Nick Salvo 
Frank Tuma 
Henry Teeliee 
Sie A. West 
Moshy Wilkerson 
Sam Peltz 
Nicholas Trook 
Simon Levine 
John Reisheck 
John W. (joodeiiow 
William A. Scott 
Austin W. Sellers 
Lee P. Davis 



Page 97 



:;:c)yy (e)inii I mill "II 



IN CIVIES 



(Carl Harteiius in the American Legion Weekly) 
Where are the girls who used to smile, and the rides I 

used to get? 
And where is the crowd that was very proud to pass ma 

a cigarette? 
Time was I danced with maidens fair, and captured tliolr 

hearts hy storm, 
But I've lost my pull with the heautilul since quitting the 

uniform. 

I've sunk my heels into Turkish rugs tliat only the rich 

can own, 
At tables fine I've been asked to dine in the heart of the 

social zone; 
In cushions deep of the limousines I have rested my 

manly form, 
But I've lost my job with the toney mob since quitting 
• the uniform. 

Ive been a king on a ballroom ilooi'. an ace in the social 

swirl, 
I could show my face in any old place and never a lip 

would curl; 
I could walk right up to a rich man's door and be sure of 

a welcome warm. 
But I've changed a lot and iliey know me not, since 

quitting the uniform. 

Now I walk down town and the autos pass, and nobody 

says get in. 
And the girls are shy when I'm standing by. and give me 

the tilted chin; 
And nobody knows and ufibody cares whether I eat or 

how, 
I must buy my chuck, for I'm out of luck — I'm wearing 

my civies now. 



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